Current best practice in the evaluation and management of malignant pleural effusions

Abstract

Malignant pleural effusions (MPEs) are an important cause of cancer-related mortality and morbidity. It is a heterogeneous group of conditions, which leads to debilitating symptoms and confers a poor prognosis. Recent well-designed randomized trials have provided a broader evidence base for an expanding range of treatment options. Together, with new prognostic scoring systems and a greater understanding of how different patient phenotypes respond to treatment, this allows greater personalization of management. This article will discuss the current evidence on evaluation and management of MPEs.

Keywords: indwelling pleural catheter; malignant; mesothelioma; pleural disease; pleural effusion; pleurodesis.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest statement: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.

Pleural effusion with trapped lung.

Figure 2.

Septated pleural effusion.