ERS/EACTS Statement on the Management of Malignant Pleural Effusions

Malignant pleural effusions (MPE) affect up to 15% of all patients with cancer, and in the last few years several well-designed randomized clinical trials have been published. In this position paper, members from both the European Respiratory Society and the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery summarize the available evidence, focusing on six topics: (1) symptomatic MPE, (2) MPE with trapped lung, (3) loculated MPE, (4) factors predicting prognosis, (5) timing of oncological therapy and definitive fluid management, and (6) histological diagnosis versus cytology.