Abstract
In November 1995, a 57-year-old male was admitted for worsening dyspnea, a dry cough and chest tightness. His medical history was unremarkable, and without cardiopulmonary disease. A central cT4N0M0 adenocarcinoma of the left lung with malignant pericardial effusion was diagnosed. Baseline CEA was 168 mg/l. The patient underwent a thoracoscopic pericardial fenestration with good symptom relief. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) after this procedure showed a slight restrictive pattern, probably due to left diaphragm palsy: FEV1 83%, VC 89%, TLC 83%, DLCO 82%, and arterial oxygen partial pressure (PO2) 82 mmHg. After informed consent, he was then included in a phase II chemotherapy trial with alternating administration of docetaxel 100 mg/m, and cisplatin 120 mg/m, repeated every 3 weeks up to nine cycles (five docetaxel and four cisplatin) [2]. There was a nearly complete radiological response, CEA fell to 8.2 mg/l. In February 1997, disease progression occurred (CEA 168 mg/l), and treatment with alternating docetaxel 100 mg/m and cisplatin 100 mg/m was restarted (six cycles * Corresponding author. Tel.: +32-16-346802; fax: +3216-346803. E-mail address: johan.vansteenkiste@uz.kuleuven.ac.be (J.F. Vansteenkiste).
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
