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StatPearls, LLC

  • Chest Pain
  • Pleural Effusion, Malignant
  • Pleurodesis
  • Talc
  • Thoracentesis

Malignant Pleural Effusion

Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) has an incidence of 500,000 new cases a year in the United States and Europe and has long been recognized as a cause of significant morbidity in patients with advanced cancer. Associated loculations have been identified as a poor prognostic factor. Diagnosing MPE typically involves a combination of clinical assessment, imaging studies, and laboratory analysis of pleural fluid. Symptoms such as dyspnea, chest pain, and cough prompt further evaluation, often starting with a chest x-ray or computed tomography to detect fluid accumulation. Thoracentesis allows for cytological examination to identify malignant cells. Additional tests like pleural biopsy or biomarkers may be conducted to confirm the diagnosis. Advanced imaging techniques and molecular testing can aid in determining the primary malignancy and guiding treatment strategies. Management of malignant pleural effusion involves therapeutic thoracentesis for symptom relief, pleurodesis or indwelling pleural catheters to prevent fluid recurrence, and treatment of the underlying malignancy to address the root cause. Spengler was the first to perform chemical pleurodesis using hypertonic glucose in 1901. Controversy over the ideal agent for this procedure has evolved since then. However, talc has been recognized as the most widely used and studied agent. This activity for healthcare professionals is designed to enhance learners’ competence in evaluating and managing MPE. Participants gain a deeper understanding of the condition’s pathogenesis, various clinical presentations, and evidence-based diagnostic and management strategies. Greater proficiency prepares learners to work within an interprofessional team caring for patients with MPE.

Credit & MOC Details

Credit information is provided by the course provider. We recommend confirming credit eligibility with the provider or your licensing board before starting the activity.

Credit types

AAPA Category 1 Credit™Up to 2.5 creditsAMA PRA Category 1 Credit™Up to 2.5 creditsNursingUp to 2.5 creditsPharmacyUp to 2.5 credits

MOC types

ABS — Accredited CMEUp to 2.5 pointsABPATH — Lifelong LearningUp to 2.5 pointsABA — Lifelong LearningUp to 2.5 pointsABTS — Accredited CMEUp to 2.5 pointsABIM — Medical KnowledgeUp to 2.5 pointsABS — Self-AssessmentUp to 2.5 pointsABP — Lifelong Learning and Self-AssessmentUp to 2.5 pointsABTS — Self-AssessmentUp to 2.5 points

FDA REMS

No

Qualifies for MIPS

No

Target Specialties

Cross-Specialty

Relevant across 12 specialties.

Pricing

Fee varies

This provider typically $49–98

See fees on statpearls.com

Listed by the provider

  • Article / monograph / reference
  • Credit · Up to 2.5 credits
  • MOC · Up to 2.5 points
  • Fee varies · this provider typically $49–98
  • Released
    Sep 1, 2026
  • Last day to claim credit
    Sep 1, 2029 3 years left

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