Benign Pleural Effusion

Benign pleural effusion is an accumulation of fluid in the outer layer of the lung. This is usually found in a patient who has been exposed to asbestos and can indicate the development of malignant mesothelioma.

Less common is an accumulation of fluid which is clear but may be blood-stained and occurs as a result of benign inflammatory changes. This condition tends to occur earlier than mesothelioma, usually between ten and twenty years from first exposure.