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In small cell lung cancer with effusion that is negative on thoracentesis twice, do you assume limited stage disease?

Does PET avidity factor in your decision?
1 Answer
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Medical Oncology · The Ohio State University School of Medicine
Answered on

Although we know the sensitivity of a single thoracentesis to detect malignant pleural effusion is fairly low (perhaps 65%), effusions in SCLC can sometimes be reactive - if there is any lung collapse, for example. If otherwise limited stage and multiple attempts have been made to rule out malignant...

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