Chonnam Med J.  2005 Aug;41(2):172-176.

The Predictors of Survival in Patients with Malignant Pleural Effusion

• Wee JO
• Son CY
• Kim KS
• Kim YI
• Lim SC
• Kim YC
• Park KO

Abstract

Malignant pleural effusion can be developed in the clinical course of various malignancies. The life expectancy of patients diagnosed to have malignant pleural effusion is usually limited to several months and pleurodesis and aggressive local therapy are generally indicated for those patients. Expecting prognosis of these patients is not straightforward as previous studies have reported conflicting results. This is a retrospective study searching for the predictors of survival in patients with malignant pleural effusion. Subjects were 65 cases with pathologically proven malignant pleural effusions from 1998 to 2003. Performance status score (ECOG) at the time of diagnosis, pathologic type and pH, glucose, amylase, LDH of pleural fluids were reviewed as putative prognostic factors. The statistically significant predictor of survival was ECOG performance status score (Log rank p=0.009), while LDH, pH, glucose and amylase were not. The performance status was the only significant predictor of survival. However, in order to ascertain the prognostic factor, further study with larger sample size and prospective analysis using more sophisticated performance status scale should be followed.

Keyword

Malignant pleural effusion; Survival; Predictors

MeSH Terms

Amylases
Diagnosis
Glucose
Humans
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Life Expectancy
Pleural Effusion, Malignant*
Pleurodesis
Prognosis
Retrospective Studies
Sample Size
Amylases
Glucose