A PANCREATIC PSEUDOCYST WITH PANCREATIC PLEURAL EFFUSION - REPORT OF A CASE

A 54-year-old man with a 30-year history of chronic alcoholism was adm itted to our hospital suffering from dyspnea and left-sided chest pain . A chest radiograph revealed pleural effusion. Computed tomography re vealed a pancreatic pseudocyst in the tail of the pancreas spreading o ut to the posterior mediastinum and the left pleural cavity. The labor atory findings of pleural effusion were as follows: amylase, 118400 IU /1; protein, 4.6 g/dl; class I in cytology. Despite a reduction in the pleural effusion by conservative therapy, left back pain and a recurr ence of the pleural effusion were observed after oral intake was re-in itiated. A distal pancreatectomy and ligation of the pancreaticopleura l fistula were thus performed on the 75th hospital day. The patient ma de a complete recovery from pancreatic pleural effusion and has now be en well for 9 years.