Presentation
Breathlessness.
Patient Data
Age: 90 years
Gender: Male
From the case:
Mesothelioma
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Very large left pleural effusion with near white-out of the left hemithorax. Aeration of some of the left apex with collapse of the remainder of the lung. Positive mass effect with midline shift to the right. Calcified pleural plaques are seen in the left midzone.
Case Discussion
The patient underwent thoracocentesis with cytology suspicious but not definite for mesothelioma. Due to the patient's age, a further biopsy was not performed.
A unilateral pleural effusion without good cause (e.g. pneumonia) should always be suspicious for an underlying malignancy, especially in elderly patients.
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