MANAGEMENT OF MALIGNANT PLEURAL EFFUSIONS

Abstract

Malignant pleural effusions are an important complication for
patients with intrathoracic and extrathoracic malignancies. Median survival after diagnosis of malignant pleural effusions is 4 months. Common cancer types causing malignant pleural effusions include carcinomas of the breast, lung, gastrointestinal tract, and ovaries, lymphomas. Management of malignant pleural effusions remains palliative; it is critical that the appropriate management approach is chosen on the basis of available expertise and the patient’s clinical status and include thoracentesis, indwelling pleural catheter, pleurodesis, thoracoscopy, pleuroperitoneal shunt.