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Convertible Notes Convertible Notes (Summary of February 2018 Notes) (Detail) (Details) (February 2018 Notes [Member], USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Mar. 31, 2015
Feb. 12, 2014
February 2018 Notes [Member]
   
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount $ (22,025)us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pdli_February2018NotesMember
$ (29,700)us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pdli_February2018NotesMember
Convertible notes 277,975us-gaap_ConvertibleDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pdli_February2018NotesMember
300,000us-gaap_ConvertibleDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pdli_February2018NotesMember
Debt Instrument, Face Amount $ 300,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pdli_February2018NotesMember
$ 300,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= pdli_February2018NotesMember