What Causes A Hemothorax?

Malignant Pleural Effusion

Malignant pleural effusion occurs as a result of the development of cancer. This pleural effusion remains a collection of fluids between the visceral and parietal layers surround the lung. Patients with malignant pleural effusion tend to get the disorder towards the end stages of cancer. The pleural fluid naturally moves through the space of the pleural lining of the lungs. When more fluid is produced than absorbed in this lining pleural effusion occurs. The malignant tumor may be causing blocking the flow of pleural fluid around the lungs, or a tumor may obstruct a thoracic duct. Malignant pleural effusion can come from such cancers as breast cancer, adenocarcinoma of the lung, ovarian cancer, mesothelioma, and advanced lymphoma. Patients with malignant pleural effusion are somewhat hard to diagnose, though chest x-rays, thoracic ultrasounds, and CT scans help determine a diagnosis as well as tests such as protein levels, lactose dehydrogenase levels, and pleural fluid LDH levels.