J Korean Soc Radiol.  2009 Jul;61(1):39-43. 10.3348/jksr.2009.61.1.39.

A Pleuroperitoneal Bleb Mimicking an Intrathoracic Mass in a Cirrhotic Patient: Three Case Reports

• Kim JH
• Lee KH
• Cho SG
• Jeon YS

• KMID: 1471217
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jksr.2009.61.1.39

Abstract

In a cirrhotic patient, an increase in intra-abdominal pressure due to the presence of ascites might lead to a small pleuroperitoneal bleb of the peritoneum from congenital defects in the hemithorax. This lesion may appear as an intrathoracic mass as seen on a simple chest radiograph. A CT image may be helpful to differentiate an ascitic pleuroperitoneal bleb from an intrathoracic mass. We present three cases of a pleuroperitoneal bleb in patients with liver cirrhosis and ascites.

MeSH Terms

Ascites
Blister
Congenital Abnormalities
Humans
Liver Cirrhosis
Peritoneum
Pleural Effusion
Thorax
Tomography, X-Ray Computed