this week's "What Does That Really Mean?" Today I'll be describing the term pleural

effusion. A pleural effusion is a build-up of fluid

in the lining of the lungs. It's also referred to as water on the lungs.

Most patients that have been diagnosed with a pleural effusion describe it as extreme

pressure in their chest. Pleural effusions can be diagnosed by an x-ray

and show up as a whiteness in area The fluid can be drained from the lungs but

it will be very important to determine what caused the fluid to build up because this

could be a symptom of something greater, like mesothelioma or lung cancer.

Thanks for watching and stay tuned for next week's episode.