Talc Mediates Angiostasis in Malignant Pleural Effusions Via Endostatin Induction (2/20)

According to a report released from the University of Florida, using talc for pleurodesis procedures is the most effective agent to harden the tissue.  However, it is still unclear how effective talc is in completely resolving pleural malignant mesothelioma.  More...

Talc Should Not be Used For Pleurodesis in Patients with Nonmalignant Pleural Effusions (11/01)  (AMERICAN JOURNAL OF Respiratory and Critical Care Medicin)

In the debate regarding the use of talc in pleurodesis, respiratory failure after intrapleural injection was cited as that complication potentially limiting employment of this agent. We agree with this appraisal in the treatment of patients with malignant recurrent effusions. However, there should continue to be concern regarding the use of talc for pleurodesis in individuals with nonmalignant pleural effusions and spontaneous pneumothorax.  More...

Thoracoscopic Talc Poudrage in Malignant Pleural Effusions: Effective Pleurodesis Despite Low Pleural pH.  Y Aelony, RR King and C Boutin.  Chest 1998; 113;1007-1012.  Current as of October 18, 2006

Yossef Aelony, MD, FCCP; Randal Robert King, MD, FCCP; and Christian Boutin, MD, FCCP. Department of Internal Medicine, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Harbor City, CA.  Published 1998 in Chest journal.

Study concludes that thoracoscopic talc poudrage (TTP) is an effective pleurodesis technique in patients with malignant pleural effusions, even when the pleural pH is low. The short hospital stay and high success rate make this approach a good choice in palliating symptomatic malignant pleural effusions.  More...  (PDF)

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"Malignant Pleural Therapy: Intrapleural Therapy,"  Daniel L. Miller, MD, Assoc. Prof. of Surgery, Emory University and Clinic, Atlanta, Georgia. Presented at MARF conference in Las Vegas, Oct. 7, 2005.

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Medical Thoracoscopy (Pleuroscopy), 2005. 
Yossef Aelony, MD.  American Thoracic Society.

Pleuroscopy is a simple, practical, easy to learn technique for the pulmonologist whose referral base provides a large volume of patients with pleural disease.  It compares favorably to diagnostic thoracotomy and VATS in terms of pain, time in hospital, and expense, with less risk and almost the same accuracy.   - Yossef Aelony, MD  More...

Prolonged Survival After Talc Poudrage for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma. 
Aelony Y, Yao JF. PubMed. Department of Internal Medicine, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Harbor City, CA 90710, USA. y.aelony@cox.net  (Nov. 1995)

Yossef Aelony, MD, FCCP. Department of Internal Medicine, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Harbor City, CA.  Published in 2005 Respirology journal.

Study concludes that TTP remains a safe, low-morbidity, inexpensive primary palliative treatment option for malignant pleural mesothelioma and a valid control arm option for therapeutic trials. TTP is ideal for patients who wish to avoid thoracotomy, long hospital stays and morbidity from multimodality therapy. More...

Talc Induces Apoptosis in Human Malignant Mesothelioma Cells In Vitro. (2/22/2000)

Pleurodesis with talc is an accepted method for the treatment of symptomatic pleural effusions secondary to mesotheliomas. Patients with mesothelioma who have talc-induced pleurodesis have a lower morbidity than do those who do not have pleurodesis.  More...