Malignant pleural effusion

Definition of malignant pleural effusion

malignant pleural effusion

(muh-LIG-nunt PLOOR-ul eh-FYOO-zhun)
A condition in which cancer causes an abnormal amount of fluid to collect between the thin layers of tissue (pleura) lining the outside of the lung and the wall of the chest cavity. Lung cancer, breast cancer, lymphoma, and leukemia cause most malignant pleural effusions.

Source: NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms