Pleura
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Metastatic Tumors
Synonyms: Secondary Tumors
Definition
Various malignancies, most commonly carcinomas, that produce secondary involvement of the pleura.
Clinical Features
- Most common malignant tumor in pleura
- Cause pleural effusion:
- second most common cause (after congestive heart failure) in patients aged >50 years:
- most common presenting symptoms:
Gross Pathology
- Fluid:
- usually >500 mL
- most often serous to serosanguinous
- may be frankly hemorrhagic
Diagnosis
- ≈75% carcinomatous:
- most common sites for primary:
- lung (33%)
- breast (20.9%)
- stomach (7.3%)1
- ≈90% of lung, breast, and ovarian malignant effusions are ipsilateral to primary:
- may be first evidence of cancer
Differential Diagnosis
Select up to 2 differential diagnoses to compare with Metastatic Tumors
References
1 Chernow B, Sahn SA. Carcinomatous involvement of the pleura. An analysis of 96 patients. Am J Med. 1977;63:695–702.
Last updated: 12 Mar 2006
