"pleural metastases, usually haematogenous spread to the visceral pleura with subsequent spread to the parietal pleura through adhesions or implantation of tumour cells."
"The incidence of malignant pleural effusion is approximately 150,000 per annum in the USA and 50,000 per annum in the UK and affects ~20% of cancer patients 11. Lung and breast cancer account for >50% of malignant pleural effusions, and malignancy accounts for about one-third of exudative effusions 12."
"The incidence of malignant pleural effusion is approximately 150,000 per annum in the USA and 50,000 per annum in the UK and affects ~20% of cancer patients 11. Lung and breast cancer account for >50% of malignant pleural effusions, and malignancy accounts for about one-third of exudative effusions 12."
"FDG-PET is highly sensitive for malignant pleural disease 3 but can be falsely positive in inflammatory disease or post pleurodesis 11. Hypermetabolism can be seen in either the pleura or pleural effusion. SUV of ≥2.0 favours benign disease 3. FDG-PET can help identify an optimal site for pleural biopsy and demonstrates nodal and metastatic disease elsewhere."
"Patients may be asymptomatic or present with breathlessness, pain or cough 12. Early pleural disease may be evident as pleural nodules or thickening and may progress to pleural effusion and non-expandable lung. Localised pain may indicate chest wall invasion and may be accompanied by a palpable mass."
"Frontal chest x-ray can detect fluid as little as 175 mL, but has low sensitivity below volumes of 500 mL ref. X-ray features of malignancy are not often seen; they include pleural nodularity and involvement of the mediastinal pleura. Lung or bone metastases, chest wall invasion and lymphadenopathy are helpful signs of malignancy."