Polyvinylpyrrolidone deposits in the pleura

We report on the case of a 45-years old woman with repeated pleural effusio ns lasting for 2 years. She had a history of breast carcinoma 6 years ago, which was treated by breast amputation and radiation. After repeated histol ogical and cytological examinations no tumorous compromise of the pleura or other cause for the effussions could be found. A pleural resection was per formed. On the histological and electron microscopical examination deposits of a foreign substance were found, which was identified as polyvinylpyrrol idone.This substance was obviously introduced in the pleural cavity by the attempts to treat the effussions by pleurodesis with Diclofenac(R) and Tetr acyclin (Vibravennoss(R))The diagnosis is suggested by the histological fin dings, but It must be confirmed by anamnesis, also for PVP deposits in othe r organs.