PLEURAL EFFUSION AS A SIGNIFICANT PROGNOSTIC FACTOR IN NONSMALL CELL LUNG-CANCER

In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), pleural effusion is a frequentl y observed complication, and often provides a treatment difficulties. The aim of this study is to evaluate prognostic significance of pleura l effusion in patients with NSCLC. Materials and Methods: Seven hundre d and eight untreated patients with NSCLC who were consecutively admit ted to our department over a 20 year period up to December 1996, were analyzed using uni-and multivariate analyses. Results: Univariate anal ysis showed pleural effusion to be a significant prognostic factor for NSCLC, in addition to gender stage, performance status(PS). Multivari ate analysis proved pleural effusion to be one of the significant prog nostic factors, especially in patients with poor PS. Conclusion: Adequ ate palliative care to provide prolonged quality survival remains the primary goal of therapy for patients with poor performance status and pleural effusion until better treatments are developed.