Abstract
Objectives
Non-expandable lung is a recognised phenomenon that can create management challenges in mesothelioma. Its prevalence and clinical importance are unknown.
Methods
This was a prospective, observational cohort of mesothelioma patients, seen in a single centre between 01/03/2008 and 03/08/2017. Baseline characteristics were collected at diagnosis. Serial chest radiographs were assessed for the presence of pleural effusions and non-expandable lung (defined as a lack of lung expansion following pleural aspiration or drainage). Patients were followed up until death or censored on 14/03/2019.
Results
Of 229 patients, 192 (82.7%) had a pleural effusion at presentation, with non-expandable lung observed in 64/192 (33.3%). Breathlessness and cough were more frequent with pleural effusions, especially with underlying non-expandable lung, whilst chest pain was more prevalent in patients without effusions. Patients with pleural effusions, both with and without underlying non-expandable lung, were more likely to have epithelioid disease, early stage disease and to receive chemotherapy than patients with no pleural effusion.
Non-expandable lung was an independent risk factor for short survival, with a hazard ratio for mortality of 1.80 (95% confidence interval 1.16 to 2.80) compared with patients without non-expandable lung. The presence of a pleural effusion did not appear to be associated with a worse prognosis compared to patients with an effusion (adjusted HR 1.86, 95% confidence interval 0.93 to 3.72).
Conclusion
This is the first study to describe the prevalence and clinical implications of non-expandable lung in mesothelioma. It demonstrated that NEL is a relatively common phenomenon that is associated with significant symptomatology and shorter survival.
Non-expandable lung is a recognised phenomenon that can create management challenges in mesothelioma. Its prevalence and clinical importance are unknown.
Methods
This was a prospective, observational cohort of mesothelioma patients, seen in a single centre between 01/03/2008 and 03/08/2017. Baseline characteristics were collected at diagnosis. Serial chest radiographs were assessed for the presence of pleural effusions and non-expandable lung (defined as a lack of lung expansion following pleural aspiration or drainage). Patients were followed up until death or censored on 14/03/2019.
Results
Of 229 patients, 192 (82.7%) had a pleural effusion at presentation, with non-expandable lung observed in 64/192 (33.3%). Breathlessness and cough were more frequent with pleural effusions, especially with underlying non-expandable lung, whilst chest pain was more prevalent in patients without effusions. Patients with pleural effusions, both with and without underlying non-expandable lung, were more likely to have epithelioid disease, early stage disease and to receive chemotherapy than patients with no pleural effusion.
Non-expandable lung was an independent risk factor for short survival, with a hazard ratio for mortality of 1.80 (95% confidence interval 1.16 to 2.80) compared with patients without non-expandable lung. The presence of a pleural effusion did not appear to be associated with a worse prognosis compared to patients with an effusion (adjusted HR 1.86, 95% confidence interval 0.93 to 3.72).
Conclusion
This is the first study to describe the prevalence and clinical implications of non-expandable lung in mesothelioma. It demonstrated that NEL is a relatively common phenomenon that is associated with significant symptomatology and shorter survival.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | 21 |
| Journal | Annals of the American Thoracic Society |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 12 Jun 2019 |
Research Groups and Themes
- Academic Respiratory Unit
Keywords
- Mesothelioma
- Pleural Effusion, Malignant
- non-expandable lung
- Survival
- Trapped lung
- Symptoms