SUMMARY This study was designed to determine the efficacy of iodized talc pleurodesis in patients with malignant pleural effusions. From September 1992 until July 1997 seventy-two patients underwent this mode of treatment (four of them bilaterally). All patients had complete lung reexpansion after tube thoracostomy with a fluid drainage count of less than 250 ml in 24 hours. A slurry containing iodized talc was administered in the pleural cavity through the chest tube. Chest tubes were removed the next day. The patients' age ranged from 26 to 88 years (average 50 years). Thirty-five patients had breast cancer, 26 lung cancer, 6 intestinal cancer, 3 kidney cancer, 2 carcinoma of the uterus, 2 sarcoma, 2 ovary cancer and 1 cancer of the oesopagus. Serial chest radiographs showed complete response in all patients. The follow up period ranged from 1 to 24 months (average 4,5 months) with 4 recurrences of pleural effusion. There were no complications. These observations indicate that intrapleural administration of slurry iodized talc is a safe, adequate and effective treatment for the control of neoplastic pleural effusions. Pneumon 1999, 12 (1): 26-31