Abstract
Malignant pleural effusions are a common clinical problem in patients with primary thoracic malignancy and metastatic malignancy to the thorax. Symptoms can be debilitating and can impair tolerance of anticancer therapy. This article presents a comprehensive review of pharmaceutical and nonpharmaceutical approaches to the management of malignant pleural effusion, and a novel algorithm for management based on patients' performance status.
MeSH terms
-
Algorithms
-
Anastomosis, Surgical
-
Catheters, Indwelling
-
Chest Tubes
-
Cost-Benefit Analysis
-
Decision Support Techniques
-
Decision Trees
-
Drainage
-
Humans
-
Palliative Care / economics
-
Palliative Care / methods*
-
Paracentesis
-
Patient Selection
-
Pleural Effusion, Malignant / diagnosis
-
Pleural Effusion, Malignant / epidemiology
-
Pleural Effusion, Malignant / etiology
-
Pleural Effusion, Malignant / therapy*
-
Pleurodesis
-
Sclerosing Solutions / therapeutic use
-
Thoracoscopy
-
Thoracostomy
-
Treatment Outcome