Thelansis

  Malignant pleural effusions (MPE), commonly found in cancer patients, are often associated with advanced disease and indicate poor survival prospects. These effusions are primarily caused by metastases to the pleura, particularly from lung or breast cancer, and their presence in lung cancer patients escalates the disease to stage 4. Typically, these effusions present as significant, unilateral exudates causing dyspnea. Diagnosis involves confirming the malignant nature of the effusion and ruling out any infection before proceeding with treatment. Thoracic imaging is crucial, with computed tomography widely regarded as the gold standard. However, thoracic ultrasound is also valuable, especially for detecting diaphragmatic or pleural thickening and nodularity. Cytology is crucial and is usually obtained through pleural fluid aspiration or biopsy. Treatment aims primarily at symptom relief and may include various interventions, from simple thoracentesis or the placement ...