title: Management of malignant pleural effusions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Malignant pleural effusions (MPEs) are one of the most common problems faced by clinicians and, since there is no optimum treatment available, they deserve efforts aimed to improve their management.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We have reviewed the most recent articles regarding treatment of MPE, with special emphasis on pleurodesis and indwelling pleural catheter placement. Although iodopovidone, silver nitrate and doxycycline are useful, talc continues to be the most effective agent available for pleurodesis. Use of calibrated talc with large particle size is now firmly established, in order to prevent complications. Indwelling pleural catheters are gaining general acceptance, and they are currently a valid option for patients with lung entrapment or those who have a previous failed pleurodesis. Advances in translational medicine related to this topic are also described.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The above results may contribute to improve significantly management of patients with malignant pleural effusions, especially those with advanced disease who are not suitable for pleurodesis procedures.
authors.affiliation: Unidad Médico-Quirúrgica de Enfermedades Respiratorias (UMQER) and Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (HUVR-IBiS), Sevilla, Spain. frpanad@ono.com
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Panadero
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Romero-Romero
mesh_terms: D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D000075202:Contraindications; D006801:Humans; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000628:therapy*; D018700:Pleurodesis