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The lungs are nestled in a cavity, shielded by the pleura. The pleura, a form of serous membrane, wraps around each lung. This membrane arrangement consists of two layers: the visceral and parietal pleurae. The visceral pleura lines the surface of the lungIn contrast, the parietal pleura is the outer layer and contacts to the thoracic wall, the mediastinum, and the diaphragm. The hilum is the point of connection between the visceral and parietal layers. The space between the parietal and...

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Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Imaging Features of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease

Imaging Features of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease

Published on: June 16, 2020

Systemic diseases and the pleura.

Lucía Ferreiro¹, José Manuel Alvarez-Dobaño, Luis Valdés

¹Servicio de Neumología, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago, Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, España.

Archivos De Bronconeumologia

|April 20, 2011

Summary

Systemic diseases, though rare causes of pleural effusions, often involve connective tissue diseases and vasculitis. Recognizing these conditions is crucial for accurate pleural effusion diagnosis.

Area of Science:

Pulmonology
Rheumatology
Internal Medicine

Background:

Pleural involvement signifies systemic disease lesions elsewhere.
Systemic diseases account for approximately 1% of pleural effusions.
Connective tissue diseases and vasculitis are common systemic causes.

Purpose of the Study:

To review systemic diseases associated with pleural involvement.
To describe the characteristics of resultant pleural effusions.
To analyze the outcomes of pleural effusions in systemic diseases.

Main Methods:

Literature review of systemic diseases causing pleural effusions.
Analysis of reported cases and characteristics of pleural effusions.
Evaluation of patient outcomes associated with these effusions.

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Main Results:

Connective tissue diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus) frequently present with pleural effusions.
Vasculitides (e.g., Wegener's granulomatosis, Churg-Strauss syndrome) can also manifest with pleural involvement.
Less common systemic diseases like adult onset Still's disease and human adjuvant disease may involve the pleura.

Conclusions:

Pleural effusions from systemic diseases are uncommon but diagnostically significant.
Systemic diseases must be considered in the differential diagnosis of pleural effusion.
Understanding effusion characteristics and outcomes aids patient management.