Pleural effusion often causes respiratory distress and deterioration of activities of daily living. Here, we describe three hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients exhibiting refractory pleural effusion. The pleural effusion in these patients was caused by a different mechanism in each case: ascites transition to the chest cavity, carcinomatous pleuritis, and bacterial infection. Both the administration of conventional diuretics and thoracentesis failed to resolve the pleural effusion. Ultimately, the patients were successfully treated by chemical pleurodesis with OK-432 and minocycline. Although they developed mild fever and pain shortly after treatment, no severe complications were observed. Given that palliative medicine should be provided in the early stage of cancer treatment, pleurodesis could be useful approach for HCC patients with refractory pleural effusion.
抄録全体を表示