Evidence map›Paper›PMID 24475222›Full record

SynthesisPloS one2014

Efficacy and safety of talc pleurodesis for malignant pleural effusion: a meta-analysis.

Huan Xia, Xiao-Juan Wang, Qiong Zhou, Huan-Zhong Shi, Zhao-Hui Tong

Open access · goldAbstract readMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in PloS one, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 48 papers, 8 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
48citing papers in PubMed, 8 pooled it
8.2field-weighted citation impact, top 2% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

48 citing papers in PubMed, 8 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 108 citations in OpenAlex.

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  15. New strategies in the management of pneumothorax.Breathe (Sheffield, England) · 2025
    Review
  16. Indwelling pleural catheters and medical thoracoscopy.Breathe (Sheffield, England) · 2025
    Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Huan XiaDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Xiao-Juan WangDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Qiong ZhouDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Huan-Zhong ShiDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China ; Center of Medical Research, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Zhao-Hui TongDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital · CNCapital Medical University · CNUnion Hospital · CN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTalc pleurodesis has been widely used to control malignant pleural effusion; however, it is still not clear whether talc pleurodesis is more effective than other local therapies. We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of talc pleurodesis in the management of malignant pleural effusion.

methodsPubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were searched for English-language studies of clinical controlled trials comparing talc pleurodesis with control therapies until August 8, 2013. Success rate and incidence of adverse events were evaluated. Relative risks were estimated using random- or fixed- effects model and statistical heterogeneity was assessed using I² test.

resultsTwenty trials involving 1,525 patients with malignant pleural effusion were included. The success rate of talc pleurodesis was significantly higher than that of control therapies (relative risk, 1.21; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.45; p = 0.035) with similar adverse events. In addition, thoracoscopic talc poudrage was more effective than bedside talc slurry (relative risk, 1.12; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.23; p = 0.026).

conclusionsThe current evidences suggested the benefit for talc pleurodesis in the treatment of malignant pleural effusion. Talc pleurodesis, especially thoracoscopic talc poudrage pleurodesis, should be performed in patients with malignant pleural effusion, especially those with life-expectancy longer than one month.

Indexed as

HumansModels, StatisticalPleural Effusion, MalignantPleurodesisRiskTalcTalc

Identifiers

PMID24475222
PMCPMC3903610
OpenAlexW2015477601

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.