Clinical analysis of pleuropneumonectomy for lung cancer with diffuse pleural metastasis accompanied by malignant pleural effusion / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate a novel therapeutic strategy in the treatment of lung cancer with diffuse pleural metastasis accompanied by malignant pleural effusion. Methods From December 1978 to February 2003, 55 patients of carcinoma of lung with pleural metastasis underwent the comprehensive therapy characterized by pleuropneumonectomy. A follow-up of all the patients after hospital discharge was conducted. Results Death due to complications was found in 2 out of the 55 patients, but remission and significant improvement of symptoms were found in the rest. A follow-up period ranging from 1 to 25 years revealed that 48 patients survived for 5-40 months (median survival time: 14 months), and 5 patients were still living and well. Conclusion Strict control of the surgical indications and radical removal of the malignant tumor can improve the quality of life and prolong the survival time of patients, even there is already metastasis to the pleura.