MRCP UK EXAMINATIONS

Detailed explanation-1: -Summary: Chylous or exudative pleural effusions occur in most patients with superior vena cava syndrome. The effusions are usually small and resolve upon correction of the underlying superior vena cava obstruction.

Detailed explanation-2: -Heart failure is the most common cause. Exudative effusion is caused by blocked blood vessels or lymph vessels, inflammation, infection, lung injury, or tumors.

Detailed explanation-3: -Exudative pleural effusions generally are caused by infections such as pneumonia, malignancy, granulomatous diseases such as tuberculosis or coccidioidomycosis, collagen vascular diseases, and other inflammatory states.

Detailed explanation-4: -Superior vena cava obstruction has been reported as a rare cause of a pleural effusion (5). The mechanism of pleural fluid formation with superior vena caval obstruction is thought to be an increase in systemic venous pressure leading to increased filtration from the parietal pleural capillaries (3).

Detailed explanation-5: -The most common cause of pleural effusion in India is tuberculosis. But, many cases of idiopathic pleural effusions have also been known.