Pleurisy - Diagnosing pleurisy

Pleurisy can usually be diagnosed by studying your symptoms, although further tests are sometimes needed.

Your GP will ask about your symptoms and recent medical history. The doctor will also use a stethoscope to listen to your chest. If you have pleurisy, your lungs will make a distinctive dry, crunching sound known as a friction rub.

Further tests

Further tests may be needed to identify the underlying cause of your pleurisy and to assess the severity of the condition. These tests can include:

• blood tests to determine whether you have an infection or an autoimmune condition
• chest X-rays
• an ultrasound scan, where sound waves are used to build up a picture of the inside of your lungs
• a computerised tomography (CT) scan, where a series of X-rays is taken and a computer used to create a more detailed three-dimensional image of your lungs

Biopsy

If lung cancer or tuberculosis is suspected, it may be necessary to remove a small sample of pleural or lung tissue for further testing. The tissue can be removed using a thin tube or fine needle which is inserted through your skin into the pleural space or lungs. Before the procedure, local anaesthetic is used to numb your skin so you do not feel any pain.

Alternatively, a small tube called a bronchoscope can be passed down your throat and used to remove a tissue sample. The procedure can be uncomfortable but you will be given a mild sedative to help you relax, and local anaesthetic to numb your throat. The procedure is quick and only takes a few minutes.