Pleural disease care
Our world-renowned specialists have the expertise to bring you the most advanced pleural disease care. Our experts treat a wide range of disorders that affect the pleura and have access to all available treatments, including ones that aren’t widely available.
Comprehensive care for all pleural diseases
Penn Medicine’s pleural disease specialists are among the best in the world and have the expertise to start you on a treatment course that improves your breathing. Pleural diseases affect the way the linings of the outside of your lungs and the inside of your chest cavity move when you breathe. The tissues usually glide by each other as your lungs expand and contract, but pleural diseases cause changes that interfere with that smooth movement, leading to chest pain, shortness of breath, and other symptoms. This may happen because of a buildup of pus, fluid, or blood in the pleural cavity around the lungs, because of air leaking into the space, or because of inflammation. In the case of mesothelioma, cancer forms in the tissue that lines the lungs.
Pleural diseases are complex and can be serious, but our highly skilled experts combine years of training and experience with the latest technology to diagnose and treat you. Lung cancer care at Penn Medicine uses the most advanced therapies, with some treatments provided by the Harron Lung Center in Philadelphia not widely available. When you come to Penn Medicine, you can be assured that you’re getting the highest level of care.
Pleural conditions we treat
Multidisciplinary care that gets results
Experts from a variety of specialties work together to recommend a treatment plan best suited for your health and goals. Our team includes experts in pulmonary medicine, thoracic surgery, endocrine and oncologic surgery, hematological oncology, pathology, radiology, radiation oncology, and psychiatry. You’re paired with a patient navigator who can answer your questions and help you set up appointments with members of the team. If needed, you also have access to clinical trials that focus on new treatments for pleural diseases and mesothelioma.
Our specialists are recognized internationally as leaders in pleural cancers, thanks to our advanced radiation treatments and innovative approaches. Research shows that choosing an academic medical center to treat rare cancers like mesothelioma results in better outcomes. At Penn Medicine, we deliver better results and a longer survivorship.
Advanced treatments for complex pleural conditions
The wide range of specialists involved in your care at Penn Medicine means you have a dedicated team working to find out what type of pleural disease you have and what caused it so that you can get the most effective treatment. Treatment often involves removing fluid, pus, blood, or air from the pleural space with a needle or tube, known as thoracentesis. Your specialists may recommend an indwelling pleural catheter that allows you to remove excess fluid at home. Our experts may also treat you for an infection or other conditions related to pleural disease, like heart failure or cirrhosis.
If you have mesothelioma, our specialists are leaders in several types of advanced radiation therapy that precisely targets cancer cells. Your mesothelioma treatment might also include immunotherapy and targeted therapy. If you need surgery, our surgeons rely on a variety of advanced techniques that they may use depending on your specific diagnosis and the stage of the cancer. You can trust our team to provide you with the therapies and support services you need to heal.
Leaders in pleural disease research
Penn Medicine is a major research center for pleural diseases and is actively developing new and innovative treatments. You may have the opportunity to join one of our many clinical trials. Penn Medicine is one of the only places in the world where you’ll find certain clinical trials on mesothelioma.
Our researchers are pioneering CAR T cell therapy to treat mesothelioma, which modifies a type of white blood cell called a T-cell to target cancer cells. Our work on clinical trials allows us to offer you the best possible available treatments so that you can breathe more comfortably and get back to doing the activities you enjoy.
Our doctors
Our providers work with you to plan and deliver exceptional treatment and personalized care.
Locations
Our hospitals, multispecialty medical centers, pharmacies, labs and more offer outstanding, personalized care for patients all across the region.