Apical pleural thickening means pleural thickening of the apical part of the lungs. Pleura is the thin tissue which covers the lung. The pleura may become hardened and lose its elasticity because of infections or some other diseases. Breath will become difficult because the hardened pleura limits the ability of the lung to expand during inhalation.
Causes
There are many causes for apical pleural thickening, including:
- bacterial pneumonia
- chemotherapy
- infection
- lupus (an important factor because it can cause inflammation to many parts of body)
Symptoms
The symptoms of apical pleural thickening are similar to other respiratory disease, including:
- shortness of breath
- chest pain
- difficulty breathing during exercise.
Treatment
Apical pleural thickening doesn’t need treatment if it has no apparent symptoms. Just keep having a regular inspection. If it affects your daily life, your doctors may advise you to have a surgery that removes the thickening tissue to relieve the pressure of the lungs and make it expand freely.
Consult your doctors before you take any treatments.
Keywords: apical pleural thickening; apical pleural; pleural.
