[Etiologic diagnosis of pleural effusions in the adult. A solved problem?]

Pleural effusion in adults is a common syndrome due to various local and systemic diseases. A careful clinical approach is very important for etiological diagnosis; pleural fluid examination and pleural biopsy are needed in almost all cases. Other techniques, like ultrasonography, computed tomography and thoracoscopy, may also be required. In this review article, the Author presents some diagnostic strategies, emphasizing the role of accurate clinical examination and the need to interpret the conventional tests precisely.