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Pleural friction rub

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

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A pleural friction rub occurs when thickened, roughened pleural surfaces rub together as the lungs expand and contract.

On auscultation, a continuous or intermittent grating sound is heard.

Causes include:

  • pulmonary infarction
  • pneumonia
  • rarely, a pleural malignancy or spontaneous pneumothorax

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