1 Pleural disease: historic perspective       PART ONE: Basic Science 2 Anatomy of the pleura 3 Mesothelial cells 4 Normal physiological fluid and cellular contents 5 Physiology: fluid and solute exchange in normal physiological states 6 Physiology: changes with pleural effusion and pneumothorax 7 Pleural inflammation and infection 8 Immunology 9 Pleural fibrosis 10 Pleural reaction to mineral dusts 11 Genetic alterations in mesothelioma pathogenesis 12 Proteomics in pleural disease 13 Pleural pharmacokinetics 14 Experimental models: pleural disease other than mesothelioma 15 Experimental models: mesothelioma       PART TWO: Clinical Science 16 Approach to patients with pleural diseases 17 Pleural fluid analysis 18 Pleural manometry 19 Radiology: diagnostic 20 Radiology: interventional 21 Radiology: pleural ultrasound 22 Pathology: histology 23 Pathology: cytology EFFUSIONS 24 Effusions from cardiac diseases 25 Effusions from malignancy 26 Effusions from infections: parapneumonic effusions and empyema 27 Effusions from infections: tuberculosis 28 Effusions from infections: atypical infections 29 Effusions from lymphatic disruptions 30 Effusions from vascular causes 31 Effusions in immunocompromised hosts 32 Effusions from connective tissue diseases 33 Effusions caused by drugs 34 Effusions after surgery 35 Hepatic hydrothorax 36 Effusions caused by gastrointestinal disease 37 Effusions of obstetric or gynecological origin 38 Benign fibrous tumor of the pleura 39 Undiagnosed pleural effusions ASBESTOS-RELATED DISEASES 40 Asbestos-related pleural diseases 41 Malignant mesothelioma PNEUMOTHORAX 42 Spontaneous pneumothorax 43 Non-spontaneous pneumothorax PEDIATRIC CONSIDERATIONS 44 Pediatric pleural diseases INTERVENTION PROCEDURES 45 Drainage techniques 46 Pleurodesis 47 Medical thoracoscopy 48 Surgery for pleural diseases 49 Gene therapy in pleural diseases CONCLUSION 50 Future directions.