Radiology Case Reports (Feb 2023)

A massive malignant pleural effusion due to lung adenocarcinoma in an adult male: a case report

  • Zubir S. Rentiya, MD, MSc,
  • Tulika Garg, MBBS,
  • Toluwalope Ejiyooye, MD, MPH,
  • Syeda Sarah Mahjabeen, MBBS,
  • Tuba Khan, MD,
  • Esther Omolade Apata, MD,
  • Vivian Chukwuedozie, MD,
  • Pratik Bharat Rajpopat, MBBS,
  • Sanathan Aiyadurai, MD,
  • George Ede, MD,
  • Vyapti A. Dave, MD,
  • Taha Sajjad, MD,
  • Hassan Chaudhry, MD,
  • Aadil Mahmood Khan, MBBS

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 18, no. 2
pp. 511 – 514

Abstract

Read online

A significant right-sided pleural effusion was seen on chest radiography in a 53-year-old adult male who complained of bilateral chest pain, shortness of breath, and other additional symptoms. The bloody pleural effusion was removed with a chest tube, and cytopathology analysis showed moderate cellularity. After performing a high-resolution computed tomography, it was discovered that the affected lung had a significant pleural effusion on the right side as well as collapsed and consolidated lung parenchyma. Upon further examination, the right lower lobe wedge biopsy cytology smear revealed mucinous adenocarcinoma. Adults rarely experience a severe malignant pleural effusion brought on by lung adenocarcinoma, particularly in the absence of risk factors.

Keywords