Predictors of talc slurry pleurodesis success in patients with malignant pleural effusions

This study suggests that clinical evaluation of biochemical values, bacteriological results and malignant tumor diagnosis may not be enough to predict post-pleurodesis relapse with high accuracy. Furthermore, we observed, in ten years of pleurodesis performed in our Hospital, that pleurodesis is an effective life prolonging therapy for patients that fit the criteria for this intervention.