Pleural Effusion
- Pleural effusion is one of the common metastatic patterns.
- The effusions often
tend to be massive, recurrent and associated with shortness of breath.
- This pattern is
associated with extensive underlying lung and systemic metastases.
- Most patients expire
within three months.
- Malignant effusions account for more than 50% of exudative pleural
effusions.
- Lung, breast, stomach and ovary account for 81% of cases.
- Pleural biopsy and
fluid cytology establish the malignant nature of the process.
- Pleural sclerosis with
tetracycline instillation is the palliative procedure of choice in problem effusions.