Lung cancer : journal of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Pleurodesis in recurrent pleural effusions: a randomized comparison of a classical and a currently popular drug.
Pleurodesis is generally regarded to give the best palliation in recurrent pleural effusion. Talc is now increasingly recommended but in our department quinacrine has been used successfully for many decades with good results and only minor side effects. It was therefore decided to make a prospective randomized clinical study comparing quinacrine (500 mg) with talc (5 g) with regard to efficacy and safety. ⋯ Both substances are effective. Talc treatment had less often to be repeated. This indicates that the recommendation of talc for pleurodesis is well founded. However, quinacrine is a good alternative.