Pleural Effusion

A pleural effusion is collection of fluid in the pleural space.

Ordinarily, there is only a small amount of fluid in the pleural cavity (the space in which the lungs sit). This fluid lubricates the lung and allows it to glide smoothly over the lining of the chest cavity during breathing movements.

A pleural effusion can be as large as 6 to 8 pints, and takes up space in the pleural cavity normally used for expansion of the lung during inspiration. When this occurs, it prevents expansion of the lung and causes shortness of breath.

If the fluid contains cancer cells, the tumor has spread beyond the bounds of surgical cure.

In certain unusual situations, a pleural effusion caused by another process may be present in a patient with a lung cancer. In such cases, the pleural fluid cytology will be negative. Such patients have been cured in some cases by surgical resection.

Pleural effusion is a very common complication of lung cancer. Malignant pleural effusion can also be caused by other types of cancer. Two other tumors that often cause such effusions are breast cancer and lymphoma.

Malignant pleural effusion is treated by removing the fluid with a needle (thoracentesis) or a chest tube.

A substance such as talcum powder, doxycycline (an antibiotic), or bleomycin (a chemotherapy agent) will often prevent recurrence of the fluid, when injected into the pleural cavity through a chest tube (pleurodesis).

Physicians can access a full text chapter on this topic in Cancer Management: A Multidisciplinary Approach 2nd Edition by following this link URL http://www.cancernetwork.com and clicking on Fluid Complications in the left hand column. You will need to register in with a physician ID number.