I would assign a Stage IV to this case. Since the pleural effusion
is positive, it does affect the stage. A positive pleural effusion
is documented evidence of disseminated (distant) disease.

I posed this question to one of our medical oncologists to make sure
I was not missing anything and he concurred.

--- In cancerregistrargroup@y..., jford@r... wrote:
>
> Stage III. Pleural effusion doesn't matter.