Characteristics of Patients with Lymphangioleiomyomatosis and Pleural Effusion: A Systematic Review.

The characteristics of patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) are poorly defined, as they may present with or without pleural effusion (PE). We performed a systematic review across four electronic databases searching for studies reporting clinical findings, PE characteristics, and the most effective treatment of LAM. Case descriptions and retrospective studies were included, unrestricted by year of publication. The review consisted of 94 studies (199 patients) spanning a period of nearly 55 years. The median age was 38 years (range: 1 month to 69 years), and 79.7% were between 21 and 50 years old. All cases had dyspnea, 95% had a cough, and 87.5% had chest pain. PE was exudative chylothorax, usually unilateral (76%) and right-sided, predominantly lymphocytic, and with proportionately higher levels of proteins than lactate dehydrogenase. Sirolimus was effective in all cases, completely in 87%, and partially in 13%, although the number of patients receiving sirolimus was small. The present study confirmed that LAM and PE mainly occur in women of childbearing age (third to fifth decade of life). PE was usually unilateral and presented as a lymphocyte-predominant chylous exudate. The most effective treatment for PE seems to be sirolimus, although studies with larger series are needed to confirm this.

Characteristics of patients with yellow nail syndrome and pleural effusion.

Yellow nail syndrome (YNS) can be associated with a pleural effusion (PE) but the characteristics of these patients are not well defined. We performed a systematic review across four electronic databases for studies reporting clinical findings, PE characteristics, and most effective treatment of YNS. Case descriptions and retrospective studies were included, unrestricted by year of publication. We reviewed 112 studies (150 patients), spanning a period of nearly 50 years. The male/female ratio was 1.2/1. The median age was 60 years (range: 0-88). Seventy-eight percent were between 41-80 years old. All cases had lymphoedema and 85.6% had yellow nails. PEs were bilateral in 68.3%. The appearance of the fluid was serous in 75.3%, milky in 22.3% and purulent in 3.5%. The PE was an exudate in 94.7% with lymphocytic predominance in 96% with a low count of nucleated cells. In 61 of 66 (92.4%) of patients, pleural fluid protein values were >3 g/dL, and typically higher than pleural fluid LDH. Pleurodesis and decortication/pleurectomy were effective in 81.8% and 88.9% of cases, respectively, in the treatment of symptomatic PEs. The development of YNS and PE occurs between the fifth to eighth decade of life and is associated with lymphoedema. The PE is usually bilateral and behaves as a lymphocyte-predominant exudate. The most effective treatments appear to be pleurodesis and decortication/pleurectomy.

Improving colorectal cancer screening programs.

In this editorial we comment on the article by Agatsuma et al published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology. They suggest policies for more effective colorectal screening. Screening is the main policy that has led to lower mortality rates in later years among the population that was eligible for screening. Colonoscopy is the gold standard tool for screening and has preventive effects by removing precancerous or early malignant polyps. However, colonoscopy is an invasive process, and fecal tests such as the current hemoglobin immunodetection were developed, followed by endoscopy, as the general tool for population screening, avoiding logistical and economic problems. Even so, participation and adherence rates are low. Different screening options are being developed with the idea that if people could choose between the ones that best suit them, participation in population-based screening programs would increase. Blood tests, such as a recent one that detects cell-free DNA shed by tumors called circulating tumor DNA, showed a similar accuracy rate to stool tests for cancer, but were less sensitive for advanced precancerous lesions. At the time when the crosstalk between the immune system and cancer was being established as a new hallmark of cancer, novel immune system-related biomarkers and information on patients' immune parameters, such as cell counts of different immune populations, were studied for the early detection of colorectal cancer, since they could be effective in asymptomatic people, appearing earlier in the adenoma-carcinoma development compared to the presence of fecal blood. sCD26, for example, detected 80.37% of advanced adenomas. To reach as many eligible people as possible, starting at an earlier age than current programs, the direction could be to apply tests based on blood, urine or salivary fluid to samples taken during routine visits to the primary health system.

[Diabetes and obstructive sleep apnoea: A case-control study]. / Diabetes y apnea obstructiva del sueño. Un estudio de casos y controles.

INTRODUCTION: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are very prevalent diseases frequently associated. Their coexistence is independently associated with an increased prevalence of cardiovascular comorbidities. As this association is underdiagnosed, it is necessary to optimise clinical suspicion by studying independent predictors of DM or prediabetes (preDM) in patients with OSA. METHOD: A simple randomised case-control study, matched for sex, body mass index (BMI) and age, aimed to study the association of OSA with DM and preDM and to identify independent predictors for both diseases in people with OSA. RESULTS: We included 208 cases with OSA and 208 controls without OSA. In the former, 18.8% had DM compared to only 10.1% in the latter (P=.00). Prevalence of preDM was 41.8% vs. 10.6%, respectively (P=.00). One hundred and twenty-four cases (59.6%) reported excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) (Epworth scale, 10.5±3.1) vs. 24.5% of the control group (Epworth scale, 6.6±2.9). Apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) and O2 desaturation indices (IDO, CT90 and CT80) were significantly higher in the case group. The risk of MD was related to age, nocturnal hypoxaemia and EDS. The risk of pre-MD was related to BMI and AHI. CONCLUSIONS: OSA is associated with DM and preDM. Age, nocturnal hypoxaemia and EDS are predictors of DM. BMI and AHI are predictors of pre-MD.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis: application of a new diagnostic algorithm to a time series of the disease.

BACKGROUND: The diagnostic criteria for Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) have changed over time. Our aim is to apply a recent diagnostic algorithm to a historical series of patients diagnosed with HP to assess its distribution according to current diagnostic criteria and the diagnostic confidence achieved. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Application to each patient the algorithm criteria. The diagnosis was HP (≥90%), provisional high (70-89%) or low confidence (51-69%) or non-HP (unlikely) (≤50%); or HP, provisional or non-HP, if they had lung biopsy. RESULTS: 129 patients [mean age 64 ± 12 years; 79 (61.2%) women] were included of which 16 (12.4%) were diagnosed on the basis of high clinical suspicion. After applying the algorithm, 106 patients (82.2%) could be evaluated and 83 (78.3%) had a diagnosis of HP or high confidence. Lung biopsy was able to establish a diagnosis of certainty in another 21 patients and a provisional diagnosis in 9 more [total, 113 (87.6%)]. The 16 patients without strict diagnostic criteria for HP had a low confidence diagnosis. A total of 56 lung biopsies (64.4%) could have been avoided according to the new guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: The application of this algorithm achieves a high diagnostic yield in HP, significantly reducing the number of lung biopsies required.

Non-specific pleuritis: long-term follow-up outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The definitive etiology of nonspecific pleuritis (NSP), the influence of the type of pleural biopsy on clinical results and the minimum duration of follow-up is controversial. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A retrospective, observational study of patients ≥ 18 years with NSP confirmed by closed pleural biopsy (CPB), local anesthesia pleuroscopy (LAP), or video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). RESULTS: A total of 167 patients were included (mean follow-up, 14.4 months), of which 25 (15%) were diagnosed within one month; [15 (60%) malignant]. Of the remaining 142 pleural effusions (PEf), 69 (48.6%) were idiopathic; 49 (34.5%) not-malignant and 24 (16.9%) malignant (4 mesotheliomas and 20 metastasic). The diagnosis of NSP was established by CPB (7; median time to diagnosis, 9.4 months), LAT (5; 15.8 months), and VATS (8; 13.5 months) (p = 0.606). Sixty-eight patients (40.7%) died during follow-up (mean time, 12 months). CONCLUSIONS: In a substantial percentage of patients diagnosed with NSP, a definitive diagnosis will not be obtained, a relevant number of patients will develop a malignant PEf. The diagnostic procedure used for the diagnosis of NSP does not seem to influence delay in the diagnosis of malignant PEf. The data obtained suggest that follow-up should be maintained for at least 24 months.

[Relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes mellitus]. / Relación entre la apnea obstructiva del sueño y la diabetes mellitus tipo 2.

INTRODUCTION: The association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and glucose metabolism remains controversial. This study investigates the relationship between OSA and incident type 2 diabetes (DM) and prediabetes (preDM), as well as the effect of long-term CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) treatment. METHODS: Follow-up study in a retrospective clinical cohort of patients with OSA and randomly selected controls. Data on incident DM and preDM as well as CPAP were obtained from hospital records. The relationship between baseline OSA and incident DM was examined using COX regression models. RESULTS: Three hundred and fifty-six patients, 169 with OSA and 187 controls were followed for a median of 98 months; 47 patients (13.2%) developed DM and 43 (12.1%) developed preDM. The 5-year cumulative incidence of DM was 10.7% (6.5-13.9%). 87% of subjects with preDM in the baseline sample progressed to incident DM. It is shown that body mass index (BMI), nocturnal hypoxia and apnea hypopnea index (AHI) are risk factors for the development of DM and that CPAP reduces this risk. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with OSA have a higher risk of developing DM. The risk factors involved are BMI, nocturnal hypoxia and AHI. Regular long-term CPAP use was associated with a decreased risk.

Combining clinical and analytical parameters improves prediction of malignant pleural effusion.

PURPOSE: The usefulness of a panel of tumour markers and clinical-radiological criteria for diagnosing malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is not clearly stated. Our purpose was to assess the performance of those parameters in the diagnosis of MPE. METHODS: Consecutive patients with exudative PE were enrolled and divided into two groups: MPE and non-MPE. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the probability of MPE. Four prognostic models were considered: (1) clinical-radiological variables; (2) analytical variables; (3) combination of clinical and analytical variables; and (4) simpler model removing some analytical variables. Calibration and discrimination (receiver operating characteristics curves and AUC) were performed. RESULTS: A total of 491 pleural exudates were included: tuberculous (n = 72), malignant (n = 211), parapneumonic (n = 115), empyemas (n = 32), or miscellaneous (n = 61). The AUC obtained with Model 1 (absence of chest pain and fever and radiological images compatible with malignancy), Model 2 (CEA, NSE, CYFRA 21-1, and TPS), Model 3 (sum of the variables of models 1 and 2), and Model 4 (the variables of model 1 plus CEA) were 0.918, 0.832, 0.952 (all with a P < 0.05), and 0.939 (P < 0.01 compared to models 1 and 2), respectively. The correct classification rate for Models 1, 2, 3, and 4, was 87.2, 79.5, 88.4, and 87.6 %, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: All models analysed had a good diagnostic yield for MPE, being greater in those that combined radiological and analytical criteria. Although Model 3 obtained a higher yield, the simplest model (Model 4) is very attractive due to its simplicity of use in daily practice.

Pleural effusion due to nonmalignant gastrointestinal disease.

Although pleural effusion is a frequent finding in clinical practice, determining its aetiology may be challenging, and up to 20% of cases remain undiagnosed. Pleural effusion may occur secondary to a nonmalignant gastrointestinal disease. A gastrointestinal origin is confirmed based on a review of the medical history of the patient, thorough physical examination and abdominal ultrasonography. In this process, it is crucial to correctly interpret findings on pleural fluid obtained by thoracentesis. In the absence of high clinical suspicion, identifying the aetiology of this type of effusion may be difficult. Clinical symptoms will be determined by the gastrointestinal process causing pleural effusion. In this setting, correct diagnosis relies on the specialist's ability to evaluate pleural fluid appearance, test for the appropriate biochemical parameters and determine whether it is necessary or not to send a specimen for culture. The established diagnosis will determine how pleural effusion is approached. Although this clinical condition is self-limited, many cases will require a multidisciplinary approach because some effusions can only be resolved with specific therapies.

Characteristics of pleural effusion due to amyloidosis.

The characteristics of patients with pleural amyloidosis (PA) are poorly known. A systematic review was performed of studies reporting clinical findings, pleural fluid (PF) characteristics, and the most effective treatment of PA. Case descriptions and retrospective studies were included. The review included 95 studies with a total sample of 196 patients. The mean age was 63 years, male/female ratio was 1.6:1, and 91.9% of patients were >50 years. The most common symptom was dyspnea (88 patients). PF was generally serious (63%), predominantly lymphocytic, and with the biochemical characteristics of transudates (43.4%) or exudates (42.6%). Pleural effusion was generally bilateral (55%) and <1/3 of the hemithorax (50%), although in 21% pleural effusion (PE) exceeded 2/3. Pleural biopsy was performed in 67 patients (yield: 83.6%; 56/67) and was positive in 54% of exudates and 62.5% of unilateral effusions. Of the 251 treatments prescribed, only 31 were effective (12.4%). The combination of chemotherapy and corticosteroids was effective in 29.6% of cases, whereas talc pleurodesis was effective in 21.4% and indwelling pleural catheter in 75% of patients (only four patients). PA is more frequent in adults from 50 years of age. PF is usually bilateral, serous, and indistinctly a transudate or exudate. A pleural biopsy can aid in diagnosis if effusion is unilateral or an exudate. Treatments are rarely effective and there may be definitive therapeutic options for PE in these patients.

Development of prognostic models to estimate the probability of lung injury one year after COVID-19-related hospitalization-a prospective study.

Background: Long-term effects of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) infection still under study. The objectives of this study were to identify persistent pulmonary lesions 1 year after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hospitalization and assess whether it is possible to estimate the probability that a patient develops these complications in the future. Methods: A prospective study of ≥18 years old patients hospitalized for SARS-COV-2 infection who develop persistent respiratory symptoms, lung function abnormalities or have radiological findings 6-8 weeks after hospital discharge. Logistic regression models were used to identify prognostic factors associated with a higher risk of developing respiratory problems. Models performance was assessed in terms of calibration and discrimination. Results: A total of 233 patients [median age 66 years [interquartile range (IQR): 56, 74]; 138 (59.2%) male] were categorized into two groups based on whether they stayed in the critical care unit (79 cases) or not (154). At the end of follow-up, 179 patients (76.8%) developed persistent respiratory symptoms, and 22 patients (9.4%) showed radiological fibrotic lesions with pulmonary function abnormalities (post-COVID-19 fibrotic pulmonary lesions). Our prognostic models created to predict persistent respiratory symptoms [post-COVID-19 functional status at initial visit (the higher the score, the higher the risk), and history of bronchial asthma] and post-COVID-19 fibrotic pulmonary lesions [female; FVC% (the higher the FVC%, the lower the probability); and critical care unit stay] one year after infection showed good (AUC 0.857; 95% CI: 0.799-0.915) and excellent performance (AUC 0.901; 95% CI: 0.837-0.964), respectively. Conclusions: Constructed models show good performance in identifying patients at risk of developing lung injury one year after COVID-19-related hospitalization.

Pulmonary Manifestations of Primary Humoral Deficiencies.

Primary immunodeficiencies are a group of conditions characterized by developmental or functional alterations in the immune system caused by hereditary genetic defects. Primary immunodeficiencies may affect either the innate or the adaptive (humoral and cellular) immune system. Pulmonary complications in primary humoral deficiencies are frequent and varied and are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. The types of complications include bronchiectasis secondary to recurrent respiratory infections and interstitial pulmonary involvement, which can be associated with autoimmune cytopenias, lymphoproliferation, and a range of immunological manifestations. Early detection is key to timely management. Immunoglobulin replacement therapy reduces the severity of disease, the frequency of exacerbations, and hospital admissions in some primary humoral deficiencies. Therefore, the presence of pulmonary disease with concomitant infectious and/or autoimmune complications should raise suspicion of primary humoral deficiencies and warrants a request for immunoglobulin determination in blood. Once diagnosis is confirmed; early immunoglobulin replacement therapy will improve the course of the disease. Further studies are needed to better understand the pathogenesis of pulmonary disease related to primary humoral deficiencies and favor the development of targeted therapies that improve the prognosis of patients.

Pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis: Clinical, radiological and histopathological features.

Pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis (PPFE) is a rare, generally idiopathic form of interstitial pneumonia with unique clinical, radiological and histopathological features. It is named after the presence of upper lobe pleural and subjacent parenchymal fibrosis, with accompanying elastic fibers. Although it is usually an idiopathic disease, it has been linked to other co-existent diseases. Diagnostic suspicion of PPFE is based on the identification of typical abnormalities on chest CT scan, which are prevailingly located in the upper lobes, adjacent to the apex of the lungs. Diagnosis can be confirmed by histological analysis, although biopsy is not always feasible. The disease is generally progressive, but not uniformly. The course of the disease is frequently slow and involves a progressive loss of upper lobe volume, which results in platythorax, associated with a significant reduction of body mass. PPFE concomitant to other interstitial lung diseases is associated with a poorer prognosis. The disease occasionally progresses rapidly causing irreversible respiratory insufficiency, which leads to death. Currently, there is no effective pharmacological therapy available, and lung transplantation is the best therapeutic option. The purpose of this review is to draw the attention to PPFE, describe its clinical, radiological and histopathological features, analyze its diagnostic criteria, and provide an update on the management of the disease.

Response to inhaled ceftazidime in patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis and chronic bronchial infection unrelated to Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

INTRODUCTION: Inhaled antibiotics reduce the frequency of exacerbations. The objective was to assess the efficacy of inhaled ceftazidime in patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB) and concomitant chronic bronchial infection (CBI) caused by potentially pathogenic microorganisms (PPM) other than Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA). MATERIAL AND METHOD: Quasi-experimental study in 21 patients with exacerbations who developed CBI by a PPM other than PA. RESULTS: Bacterial infection was resolved in 85.7% patients. Rehospitalizations, length of hospital stay, moderate exacerbations and blood levels of CRP decreased significantly. In addition, SGRQ questionnaire also decreased more than 4 points in 57.1% of the patients. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that inhaled ceftazidime in NCFB unrelated to PA is a plausible alternative to the standard therapies used in clinical practice.

Sarcoidosis. Disease progression based on radiological and functional course: Predictive factors.

BACKGROUND: Sarcoidosis is a multiorgan granulomatous disease with a variable course. OOBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to identify the patients that are more likely to experience disease progression. METHODS: A retrospective study in patients ≥18 years. Pulmonary function and radiological stage (Scadding criteria) were assessed at diagnosis, and at 1, 3 and 5 years. Sarcoidosis progression was established based on deterioration of radiological or pulmonary function (decrease ≥10% of FVC and/or ≥15% of diffusing capacity of the lung (DLCO). RESULTS: The sample included 277 caucasian patients [mean age, 50±13.6; 69.7% between 31-60 years; 56.3% men]. In total, 65% had stage II sarcoidosis, whereas only 8.3% had stage III/IV disease. Mean pulmonary function (FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC and DLCO) at diagnosis was 103±21.8, 96±22.2, 76.2±8 and 81.7±21.7, respectively. The percentage of patients with normal FVC and DLCO was 72.2% and 51.8%, respectively. Radiological stage did not change significantly during follow-up (5 years; p=0.080) and only progressed in 13 patients (5.7%). At 3 years, FVC improved, whereas DLCO exacerbated significantly (p<0.001 for the two). Disease progressed in 34.5% of the patients (57/165) whose pulmonary function and radiological stage were available (both baseline and at 3 years). Age was associated with disease progression [OR=1.04 (95%CI=1.01, 1.06)]. Risk increased by 4% for each year older a patient was at diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: At 3 years, a third of patients experienced sarcoidosis progression. Age was the only factor associated with disease prognosis.

Development and validation of a prognostic model based on comorbidities to predict COVID-19 severity: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of patients with COVID-19 infection is uncertain. We derived and validated a new risk model for predicting progression to disease severity, hospitalization, admission to intensive care unit (ICU) and mortality in patients with COVID-19 infection (Gal-COVID-19 scores). METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of patients with COVID-19 infection confirmed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in Galicia, Spain. Data were extracted from electronic health records of patients, including age, sex and comorbidities according to International Classification of Primary Care codes (ICPC-2). Logistic regression models were used to estimate the probability of disease severity. Calibration and discrimination were evaluated to assess model performance. RESULTS: The incidence of infection was 0.39% (10 454 patients). A total of 2492 patients (23.8%) required hospitalization, 284 (2.7%) were admitted to the ICU and 544 (5.2%) died. The variables included in the models to predict severity included age, gender and chronic comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, liver disease, chronic kidney disease and haematological cancer. The models demonstrated a fair-good fit for predicting hospitalization {AUC [area under the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve] 0.77 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.76, 0.78]}, admission to ICU [AUC 0.83 (95%CI 0.81, 0.85)] and death [AUC 0.89 (95%CI 0.88, 0.90)]. CONCLUSIONS: The Gal-COVID-19 scores provide risk estimates for predicting severity in COVID-19 patients. The ability to predict disease severity may help clinicians prioritize high-risk patients and facilitate the decision making of health authorities.

Evaluation of the impact of an integrated care pathway for pulmonary embolism: a quasi-experimental pre-post study.

BACKGROUND: An integrated care pathway (ICP) is intended to improve the management of prevalent resource-consuming, life-threatening diseases. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the quality of patient care improved with the establishment of a dedicated unit for pulmonary embolism (PE). METHODS: A quasi-experimental pre-post study (pre: years 2010-2013; post: 2015-2020; year 2014, "washing" period) of PE patients ≥18 years (January 2010-June 2020). The intervention involved the implementation of an ICP for PE. RESULTS: The sample was composed of 1,142 patients (510 pre-intervention and 612 post-intervention) without significant differences between the two populations. In the post-intervention period, significant reductions were observed in the median length of hospital stay (LOS) (8 vs. 6 days); time to start of oral anticoagulation therapy (4.5 vs. 3.5 days; P<0.001); and the percentage of patients with high-risk PE in whom recanalization was not contraindicated (66.7% vs. 96%; P=0.009). In-hospital and 30-day mortality decreased, although not significantly (4.5% vs. 2.8%; P=0.188; 6.1% vs. 5.2%; P=0.531, respectively). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the median LOS intervention decreased significantly according to the service where patients were referred to, and with the use of the simplified PESI. During follow-up, lifelong anticoagulation was prescribed to a higher proportion of patients in the post-intervention period (30.7% vs. 69.3%; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Although an ICP for PE does not reduce mortality significantly, it improves the quality of patient care.

Health Outcomes: Towards the Accreditation of Respiratory Medicine Departments. / Resultados de salud: hacia la acreditación de los servicios de neumología.

National health systems must ensure compliance with conditions such as equity, efficiency, quality, and transparency. Since it is the right of society to know the health outcomes of its healthcare system, our aim was to develop a proposal for the accreditation of respiratory medicine departments in terms of care, teaching, and research, measuring health outcomes using quality of care indicators. The management tools proposed in this article should be implemented to improve outcomes and help us achieve our objectives. Promoting accreditation can serve as a stimulus to improve clinical management and enable professionals to take on greater leadership roles and take action to improve outcomes in patient care.

Health outcomes: Towards the accreditation of respiratory medicine departments.

National health systems must ensure compliance with conditions such as equity, efficiency, quality, and transparency. Since it is the right of society to know the health outcomes of its healthcare system, our aim was to develop a proposal for the accreditation of respiratory medicine departments in terms of care, teaching, and research, measuring health outcomes using quality of care indicators. The management tools proposed in this article should be implemented to improve outcomes and help us achieve our objectives. Promoting accreditation can serve as a stimulus to improve clinical management and enable professionals to take on greater leadership roles and take action to improve outcomes in patient care.

Malignant Pleural Effusion: Diagnosis and Management.

Symptomatic malignant pleural effusion is a common clinical problem. This condition is associated with very high mortality, with life expectancy ranging from 3 to 12 months. Studies are contributing evidence on an increasing number of therapeutic options (therapeutic thoracentesis, thoracoscopic pleurodesis or thoracic drainage, indwelling pleural catheter, surgery, or a combination of these therapies). Despite the availability of therapies, the management of malignant pleural effusion is challenging and is mainly focused on the relief of symptoms. The therapy to be administered needs to be designed on a case-by-case basis considering patient's preferences, life expectancy, tumour type, presence of a trapped lung, resources available, and experience of the treating team. At present, the management of malignant pleural effusion has evolved towards less invasive approaches based on ambulatory care. This approach spares the patient the discomfort caused by more invasive interventions and reduces the economic burden of the disease. A review was performed of the diagnosis and the different approaches to the management of malignant pleural effusion, with special emphasis on their indications, usefulness, cost-effectiveness, and complications. Further research is needed to shed light on the current matters of controversy and help establish a standardized, more effective management of this clinical problem.