This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Citing articles on Web of Science (62)  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

LEIF G. SUHRLAND, MD; AUSTIN S. WEISBERGER, MD

Arch Intern Med. 1965;116(3):431-433.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

ALKYLATING agents have been effective in treatment of effusions into the pleural, pericardial, and peritoneal cavities due to metastatic tumor.^1-4 Other forms of treatment are also available at the present time and include radioisotopes, x-ray, talc poudrage, and pleurectomy.^5-9 However, there are certain disadvantages associated with the use of each of these agents or procedures. Mechlorethamine hydrochloride (HN₂), one of the nitrogen mustards, frequently causes moderate to severe nausea and vomiting necessitating heavy premedication. Local reactions may occur following intracavitary injection of HN₂ resulting in reactive effusions which may require emergency paracentesis. The disadvantages of radioactive isotopes are the lack of ready availability, the expense, and the radiation hazard to the patient and personnel. Furthermore, improvement is obtained with alkylating agents or radioisotopes in only 50% to 65% of the patients. Talc poudrage and pleurectomy may be very effective in controlling recurrent effusions but these techniques require thoracic surgery. Therefore . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

Author Affiliations
CLEVELAND

From the departments of medicine of Highland View Hospital and the University Hospitals of Cleveland and the School of Medicine, Western Reserve University. Assistant Professor of Medicine (Dr. Suhrland) and Professor of Medicine (Dr. Weisberger).

Footnotes
Received for publication Feb 12, 1965; accepted Feb 24.

Reprint requests to Highland View Hospital, 3901 Ireland Drive, Cleveland, Ohio 44122 (Dr. Suhrland).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?