Skip to main content
British Medical Journal logoLink to British Medical Journal
. 1973 Feb 10;1(5849):330–331. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.5849.330

Pleural Effusion with Pancreaticopleural Fistula

M Tombroff, A Loicq, J-P De Koster, L Engleholm, J-P Govaerts
PMCID: PMC1588200  PMID: 4685624

Abstract

Three patients with pleural effusion were found to have pancreaticopleural fistulas passing through an opening in the diaphragm are reported. In one case the effusion was purulent and originated from an abscess of the pancreas. Retrograde pancreatography during operation defined the course of the fistula. In two other cases the fistula was demonstrated by radiography after intrapleural injection of contrast medium. The diagnostic importance of injecting contrast medium early into the pleural cavity in cases of effusion rich in amylase, before lung expansion obscures the fistula, is emphasized. Cases of pancreaticopleural fistula may be commoner than supposed.

Full text

PDF

Images in this article

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Bergmann F., Jacobs E., Malaisse W., Thys J. P. Fistulation pleurale d'un pseudokyste pancréatique. Acta Chir Belg. 1965;Suppl 3:128–135. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Dubois J., Rousselle L., Piret R. Pancréatite nécrosante avec fistule pancréatico-bronchique. Acta Chir Belg. 1969 Mar;68(3):195–200. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Geffroy Y., Bourreille J., Morere P., Sageot M. C., Colin R. Les épanchements pleuraux des pancréatopathies chroniques. (A propos de 7 observations) Sem Hop. 1968 Apr 26;44(20):1356–1368. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Kune G. A. Abscesses of the pancreas. Aust N Z J Surg. 1968 Nov;38(2):125–128. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. POPPEL M. H. Some migratory aspects of inflammatory collections of pancreatic origin. Radiology. 1959 Mar;72(3):323–329. doi: 10.1148/72.3.323. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. ROSEMAN D. M., KOWLESSAR O. D., SLEISENGER M. H. Pulmonary manifestations of pancreatitis. N Engl J Med. 1960 Aug 11;263:294–296. doi: 10.1056/NEJM196008112630607. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Witz J. P., Copin G., Miech G., Weiss A. C. Les manifestations pleuro-pulmonaires d'origine pancréatique et leur traitement médico-chirurgical. Ann Chir. 1967 Oct;21(21):1313–1322. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from British Medical Journal are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES