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This section has been reviewed and approved by the PLWC Editorial
Board, 05/05
A pleural effusion is a condition where extra fluid builds up in the
pleural space, which is the space between the edge of the lungs and the
chest wall. A malignant pleural effusion is caused by cancer that grows
in the pleural space. About half of people with cancer develop a pleural
effusion. More than 75% of people with a malignant pleural effusion have
lymphoma or cancers of the breast, lung, or ovary.
Symptoms
People with a pleural effusion may experience the following symptoms:
- Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
- Dry cough
- Pain
- Feeling of chest
heaviness
- Inability to exercise
- Malaise (feeling unwell)
Diagnosis
The following tests may help diagnose a malignant pleural effusion,
determine the exact location of the pleural effusion, or plan treatment:
- A physical examination
- Chest x-ray (a picture
of the inside of the body), which show the buildup of fluid
- Computerized tomography
(CT or CAT) scan (an imaging test that creates a three-dimensional
picture of the inside of the body with an x-ray machine)
- Ultrasound (an imaging
test that uses sound waves to create a picture of the inside of the
body)
- Thoracentesis (the removal and
analysis of fluid from the pleural cavity with a needle)
Treatment
A pleural effusion may require treatment in a hospital. The most common
treatment is to drain the malignant pleural fluid. This may be done in
several ways:
- Thoracentesis
- Tube thoracostomy
(insertion of a tube in the chest) for about 24 hours followed by pleurodesis (a process in which substances, such
as talc, are used to try to get the edge of the lung to stick to the
chest wall to decrease the chance of the fluid returning)
- The insertion of a port,
catheter (a small tube placed into a vein temporarily), or shunt (a
device used to bypass or divert fluid from one place to another) to
drain excess fluid.
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