Emergency department presentation of an unusual pleural effusion.
Pleural effusion as a manifestation of malignancy is commonly encountered in clinical practice; most are transudates or exudates of endogenous body fluids. We report a case of pleural effusion that is directly related to the inadvertent infusion of chemotherapeutic agents into the hemithorax of a patient with ovarian carcinoma. With the increasingly common use of outpatient intravenous therapy, emergency department presentations of unusual pleural effusions should be considered.
Pronchik
D J
DJ
Emergency Medicine Residency of the Lehigh Valley, St. Luke's Hospital, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA.
Sexton
J
J
D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000139:chemically induced; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000139:chemically induced*; D013909:Thorax
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel