Indications for pleurectomy in malignant effusion.

One hundred six patients with malignant pleural effusion were treated by pleurectomy; 83 of these were available for a 2-year followup. Sixteen of 83 patients were alive 2 years following the pleurectomy, with a survival range of 2-6 years. The most common neoplasms associated with the development of effusion were carcinoma of the lung in 41 cases, carcinoma of the breast in 33 cases, and mesothelioma in 14. Indications for pleurectomy were: A) failure to control the effusion by tube drainage and instillation of chemical or radioactive agents; B) presence of a trapped lung; and C) presence of malignant effusion at the time of thoracotomy for resection of an intrathoracic tumor.