Experiences with Radioactive Colloidal Gold in the Treatment of Pleural Effusion Caused by Metastatic Cancer of the Breast

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Abstract
PLEURAL effusion is a common occurrence in disseminated cancer of the breast. Ultmann1 states that in approximately half the patients with metastatic carcinoma of the breast, a pleural effusion develops in the course of the disease. In the majority of the patients it is not the sole manifestation of the disease; nevertheless, it is a distressing and disabling event. Symptomatic relief by methods other than frequently repeated thoracentesis is desirable. Various modalities to obtain this goal have included repeated thoracentesis, radiotherapy, radioactive isotopes (Au198, CrP32O4, Y90) alkylating agents (nitrogen mustard, thio-TEPA, TEM), talc poudrage, quinacrine, . . .