title: Pleural effusion of malignant aetiology: cell block technique to establish the diagnosis.
abstract: We describe cases of two previously healthy women presenting with progressively worsening breathlessness for 1-2 months. In both cases, physical examination was suggestive of a left-sided pleural effusion, confirmed by chest X-ray. Analysis of aspirated fluid showed a lymphocytic exudate, but cytological analysis was negative for malignancy in both patients. CT scan revealed malignancies as the underlying cause of the effusions. Both patients were managed with intercostal drainage in order to collect a sufficient amount of pleural fluid to perform a new technique in our hospital: cell block. This proved to be extremely useful in assessing the definitive diagnosis and management of both women. We briefly discuss the approach to a malignant pleural effusion and the aid of this not-so-new technique.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario de Mostoles, Mostoles, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7532-4585
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: García Carretero
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Dia Oncologico, Doce de Octubre University Hospital, Mostoles, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manotas-Hidalgo
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitario de Mostoles, Mostoles, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romero Brugera
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitario de Mostoles, Mostoles, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Liliam
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: El Bouayadi Mohamed
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003584:Cytological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005122:Exudates and Transudates / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035422:Pleural Cavity / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology*; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000166:cytology / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed