Korean J Med.  2001 Feb;60(2):175-178.

Pancreatic ascites and pleural effusion without pancreatic duct disruption treated with stenting

• Kim KH
• Baik SK
• Jung YS
• Kim JG
• Kim HS
• Lee DK
• Kwon SO

Abstract

Pancreatic ascites and pleural effusion is a rare complication of inflammatory disease of pancreas. Disruption of the pancreatic duct secondary to inflammatory pancreatic disease results in an internal pancreatic fistula into the peritoneal or pleural cavities. Thus, pancreatic secretion through the internal pancreatic fistula accumulate within the peritoneal or pleural cavities. The diagnosis is strongly suspected by paracentesis and thoracentesis, which demonstrate a markedly elevated amylase and an albumin level in pancreatic ascites and pleural effusion, and is confirmed by
observation
of pancreatic duct contrast leakage at endoscopic retrograde pancreatography. We report a patient with pancreatic ascites and pleural effusion who had no demonstrable pancreatic duct disruption on endoscopic retrograde pancreatography, but successfully treated by pancreatic duct stent endoscopically.

Keyword

Pancreatic ascites; Pancreatic pleural effusion; Chronic pancreatitis; Endoscopic retrograde pancreatic stenting

MeSH Terms

Amylases
Ascites*
Diagnosis
Humans
Pancreas
Pancreatic Diseases
Pancreatic Ducts*
Pancreatic Fistula
Pancreatitis, Chronic
Paracentesis
Pleural Cavity
Pleural Effusion*
Stents*
Amylases