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Prognosis of Cancer with Synchronous or Metachronous Malignant Pleural Effusion

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Abstract

Purpose

Malignant pleural effusions (MPE) may either coincide with or follow the diagnosis of a primary tumor. Whether this circumstance influences prognosis has not been well substantiated.

Methods

Retrospective review of all consecutive patients who were cared for at a Spanish university hospital during an 11-year period and received a diagnosis of MPE.

Results

Of 401 patients, the MPE was the first evidence of cancer in 265 (66%), and it followed a previously diagnosed neoplasm in 136 (34%). Lung cancer predominated in the former group (131, 50%), and breast cancer in the latter (55, 40%). MPE that were the presenting manifestation of hematological and ovarian tumors had a statistically significant survival advantage as compared to those which developed in patients from a previously known cancer (respective absolute differences of 41 and 20 months; p < 0.005).

Conclusions

In hematological and ovarian malignancies, the synchronous or metachronous diagnosis of MPE may have prognostic implications.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pleural Medicine Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Arnau de Vilanova University Hospital, Avda Alcalde Rovira Roure 80, 25198, Lleida, Spain

    José M. Porcel, Cristina Solé & Silvia Bielsa

  2. Institute for Biomedical Research Dr Pifarre Foundation, IRBLLEIDA, Lleida, Spain

    José M. Porcel, Antonieta Salud & Silvia Bielsa

  3. Department of Medical Oncology, Arnau de Vilanova University Hospital, Lleida, Spain

    Antonieta Salud

Authors
  1. José M. Porcel
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  2. Cristina Solé
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  3. Antonieta Salud
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  4. Silvia Bielsa
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to José M. Porcel.

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Conflict of interest

There are no conflicts of interest with the current study.

Ethical Approval

All studies performed in human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee and with the Helsinki declaration.

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Porcel, J.M., Solé, C., Salud, A. et al. Prognosis of Cancer with Synchronous or Metachronous Malignant Pleural Effusion. Lung 195, 775–779 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-017-0050-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-017-0050-1

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