Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 23, 2026
Generation and Expansion of Primary, Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Tumor Lines
Published on: April 21, 2022
Phenotyping malignant pleural effusions
Macy M S Lui1, Deirdre B Fitzgerald, Y C Gary Lee
1aDivision of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, University of Hong Kong bDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital Dublin, Ireland cPleural Medicine Unit, Institute of Respiratory Health, Perth, Western Australia dDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Western Australia eCentre for Respiratory Health, School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Western Australia, Australia.
Purpose Of Review:
Patients with malignant pleural effusions (MPEs) are heterogenous in their disease course, symptom severity, responses to cancer therapies, fluid recurrence rates, and thus need for definitive fluid control measures. To tailor the most appropriate treatment for individual patients, clinicians need to 'phenotype' the patients and predict their clinical course. This review highlights the recent efforts to develop better predictive tools and knowledge gaps for further research.
Recent Findings:
The LENT scoring system, which includes pleural fluid lactate dehydrogenase, performance status, serum neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and tumor type, allows prediction of the survival of patients with MPE. Symptomatic response after therapeutic pleural drainage is highly variable; ongoing studies aim to identify those who would derive symptomatic benefit from fluid drainages. Multivariate analysis found that patients with low pleural fluid pH [odds ratio (OR) 37.04], large effusions (OR 3.31), and increasing age (OR 1.02) were more likely to require pleurodesis or indwelling pleural catheter placement for fluid control. Better predictive tools for rate of fluid recurrence and likelihood of successful pleurodesis would help guide clinical decision-making.
Summary:
Phenotyping MPE would guide the formulation of optimal management for individual MPE patients.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Pleural Effusion II: Symptoms and Management
A pleural effusion is the abnormal collection of fluid between the parietal and visceral pleura layers of tissue that form the lining of the lungs and chest cavity. It can occur independently or due to surrounding parenchymal diseases, such as infection, malignancy, or inflammatory conditions.
Clinical Manifestations:
01:25Pleural Effusion I: Introduction
There are two main types of pleural effusion: transudative and exudative. They are differentiated using Light's...
01:30Pleural Disorders: Types and Brief Description
01:26Endoscopic Studies II: Thoracocentesis
Description
Excess pleural fluid or air may accumulate in some respiratory disorders in the thoracic cavity. To treat pleural effusion, a physician conducts thoracentesis by carefully piercing the chest wall and entering...
01:30Endoscopic Studies I: Bronchoscopy and Thoracoscopy
Bronchoscopy
Description
Bronchoscopy is a procedure that involves direct visualization of the larynx, trachea, and bronchi for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. A flexible fiber optic or rigid bronchoscope is used to carry out the procedure. The fiber-optic bronchoscope is more frequently used due...
01:24Physical Assessment of the Respiratory Tract II: Palpation
Thoracic Palpation
Thoracic palpation detects tenderness, masses, lesions, respiratory excursions, and vocal fremitus. The nurse assesses...