Pleural effusion as a significant prognostic factor in non-small cell lung cancer

• Published in: Anticancer research Vol. 17; no. 6D; p. 4743
• Main Authors: Naito, T, Satoh, H, Ishikawa, H, Yamashita, Y T, Kamma, H, Takahashi, H, Ohtsuka, M, Hasegawa, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Greece 01-11-1997
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - mortality; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - pathology; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - physiopathology; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - therapy; Female; Humans; Lung Neoplasms - mortality; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Lung Neoplasms - physiopathology; Lung Neoplasms - therapy; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Metastasis; Neoplasm Staging; Pleural Effusion; Pleural Effusion, Malignant; Prognosis
• ISSN: 0250-7005

In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), pleural effusion is a frequently observed complication, and often provides a treatment difficulties. The aim of this study is to evaluate prognostic significance of pleural effusion in patients with NSCLC.
Seven hundred and eight untreated patients with NSCLC who were consecutively admitted to our department over a 20 year period up to December 1996, were analyzed using uni- and multivariate analyses.
Univariate analysis showed pleural effusion to be a significant prognostic factor for NSCLC, in addition to gender, stage, performance status(PS). Multivariate analysis proved pleural effusion to be one of the significant prognostic factors, especially in patients with poor PS.
Adequate palliative care to provide prolonged quality survival remains the primary goal of therapy for patients with poor performance status and pleural effusion until better treatments are developed.