The utility of multi-detector computed tomography in the diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion in the patients with ovarian cancer

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to retrospectively assess possible clinical predictors of malignant pleural effusion in patients with ovarian cancer. Materials and methods: This review was performed on 38 ovarian cancer patients that showed pleural effusion in a CT scan and who underwent thoracocentesis before treatment. CT scans were obtained using a 4-channel multi-detector CT scanner. Fisher`s exact test was used to determine the probability of malignant pleural effusion as a function of; amount of ascites, lymph node enlargement, amount of pleural effusion, pleural nodules, and pleural thickening. Results: Sixteen (42.1%) of the 38 patients had malignant pleural effusion and malignant pleural effusion amounts were greater than those with nonmalignant effusion. Pleural nodules were more frequently found in the malignant pleural effusion group (eight [50%] patients) than in the nonmalignant group (zero [0%] patient) (p < 0.001). Supradiaphragmatic lymph node enlargement (with short axis diameter 1 cm or more) was more frequent in malignant group (12 [75%] patients) than in the nonmalignant group (two [9.1%] patients) (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The probability of malignant pleural effusion in patients with ovarian cancer was found to be correlated with the amount of pleural effusion, the presence of pleural nodules, and supradiaphragmatic lymph node enlargement. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.Mironov S, 2007, RADIOL CLIN N AM, V45, P149, DOI 10.1016/j.rcl.2006.10.012*AM CANC SOC, 2006, CANC FACTS FIG 2006Guppy AE, 2005, CLIN ONCOL-UK, V17, P399, DOI 10.1016/j.clon.2005.05.009Eitan R, 2005, CANCER, V103, P1397, DOI 10.1002/cncr.20920Toaff JS, 2005, INVEST RADIOL, V40, P204Ferrer J, 2005, CHEST, V127, P1017Ozols RF, 2004, CANCER INVEST, V22, P11, DOI 10.1081/CNV-200030113MASKELL NA, 2003, THORAX S2, V58, P8Sallach SM, 2002, CHEST, V122, P1913Coakley FV, 2002, RADIOL CLIN N AM, V40, P609Akahira JI, 2001, GYNECOL ONCOL, V81, P398Dachman AH, 2001, AM J ROENTGENOL, V176, P701Arenas-Jimenez J, 2000, EUR RADIOL, V10, P681OXOLS RF, 2000, EPITHELIAL OVARIAN CAzzali G, 1999, MICROVASC RES, V57, P30Holloway BJ, 1997, CLIN RADIOL, V52, P692Sahn SA, 1997, EUR RESPIR J, V10, P1907AQUINO SL, 1994, RADIOLOGY, V192, P803LEUNG AN, 1990, AM J ROENTGENOL, V154, P487DAUPLAT J, 1987, CANCER, V60, P1561DATTA N, 1984, JAMA-J AM MED ASSOC, V252, P210JOHNSON RJ, 1983, RADIOLOGY, V146, P447CHERNOW B, 1977, AM J MED, V63, P695