Malignant Pleural Effusions
What is Malignant Pleural Effusion?
Malignant pleural effusions (MPE) is a condition which refers to the accumulation of fluid in the pleural space due to the presence of cancer. This fluid, often called "malignant" or "tumor" effusion, is made up of cells from the cancer, but may also contain other tissue components and fluids. The condition may be caused by a variety of forms of cancer, such as lung, breast, ovarian, and colon cancer, as well as certain types of later-stage lymphomas.
Signs and Symptoms
The primary symptom of malignant pleural effusion is chest pain. Other signs may include shortness of breath; coughing, which may be productive with white, blood-tinged sputum; and difficulty breathing. Swelling in the extremities, back pain, and a feeling of heaviness in the chest can also occur.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion is made based on the presence of certain symptoms, x-ray, CT scans, and a sample of the fluid collected from the pleural space. The fluid can then be examined and tested for the presence of cancerous cells.
Treatments of Malignant Pleural Effusions
Treatment of MPE typically involves draining the fluid from the pleural space and providing chemotherapy or radiation to help shrink the tumor. In some cases, other treatments, such as immunotherapy or targeted therapy, may be used to help reduce the size of the tumor.
- Drainage of the fluid from the pleural space
- Chemotherapy or radiation
- Immunotherapy or targeted therapy
- Surgery to remove the tumor