Talc poudrage for treatment of pleural effusion in selected patients.

Recurring pleural effusions are a significant cause of patient morbidity. Treatment goals are to relieve distressing symptoms (eg, dyspnea, pain) caused by the effusion, to prevent further extracellular fluid accumulation in the pleural space, and to restore the patient to a functional pulmonary status. Talc poudrage is a therapy that instills iodized talc through a tube thoracostomy to cover opposing pleural surfaces with an irritating powder. Talc stimulates adhesion formation that obliterates the pleural space. Recent study results indicate that intrapleural instillation of iodized talc is an adequate and effective treatment for control of neoplastic or benign pleural effusion.