Meigs syndrome (patient information)
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# Overview
Meigs' syndrome is characterized as clinical triad: benign ovarian tumor, ascites, and pleural effusion. It is rare before 40 years of age and becomes more frequent as the years progress. The ovarian tumor is usually a fibroma but may be a thecoma, cystadenoma, or granulosa cell tumor. If the tumor is resected, the fluid resolves.

# What are the symptoms of Meigs syndrome?
Most features are related to ascites and pleural effusion. Other symptoms include: 
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Swelling of the abdomen
- Weight loss
- Poor appetite
- Cough
- Bloating
- Dullness of percussion of lungs
- Tachycardia
- Present of ascites
- Present of pelvic mass
- Abdominal examination may feel the mass

# What causes Meigs syndrome?
Meigs' syndrome is usually generated by the presence of benign ovarian tumors, such as fibroma, thecoma, granulosa cell tumor or cystadenoma. The fibrous growth in a woman's ovary which causes abnormal levels of sex hormone production.

# Who is at highest risk?
Women with the presence of known ovarian pathology.

# Diagnosis
- Cancer antigen CA-125 (Usually, elevated in pleural and peritoneal fluid)
- Blood tests FBC, U&E, LFTs, including plasma proteins.
- Chest X-ray (CXR)(AP and lateral) will show the degree of pulmonary effusion.
- Abdominal ultrasound (outline of ovarian tumour if present and ascites)
- Imaging also includes CT of the chest abdomen and pelvis, and MRI of the pelvis.
- Paracentesis and aspiration of pleural fluid

# When to seek urgent medical care?
Meigs syndrome is not a life-threatening situation, however in the presence of any of the previously mentioned symptoms, patients should seek for  a gynecologic surgeon for surgical management.

# Treatment options
Exploratory laparotomy with surgical staging is the treatment of choice.

# Where to find medical care for Meigs syndrome?
For patient education resources, see Women's Health Center and Cancer center.
Directions to Hospitals Treating Meigs syndrome

# Prevention of Meigs syndrome
There is no primary prevention for this syndrome. It is highly suggested that women perform a regular check-up with their gynecologist every year to avoid any complications.

# What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
Overall, the patient should expect a full recovery as the condition is usually benign. The rate of cure after surgery is high and recurrence is very rare. Nevertheless, this condition is contingent of histopathological findings; this normally dictates the long-term prognosis for patients.

# Possible complications
The major complications of Meigs syndrome is infertility.

# Source
-   Meigs syndrome. Patient Information. Accessed on November, 2015
-  GOULD EA, KERR HH (1956). "Meigs' syndrome; a report of four cases, one having hemohydrothorax". Ann. Surg. 143 (6): 7403. PMC 1465177. PMID 13327818..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
-   Meigs syndrome: Overview. Medscape  Accessed on November,12 2015
-  Meigs syndrome. Syndrome URL / Accessed on November,12 2015
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-  Meigs syndrome 2. Syndrome URL / Accessed on November,12 2015