A CASE OF CHRONIC-PANCREATITIS COMPLICATED BY MASSIVE PERICARDIAL ANDRIGHT PLEURAL EFFUSION

A 42-year-old man was admitted complaining of dyspnea. Chest X-ray sho wed an increase in cardiac size, and echocardiography revealed a large volume of pericardial effusion. Pancreatic enzyme levels were elevate d in both serum and pericardial effusion. Computed tomography and endo scopic retrograde pancreatography demonstrated a fistula connecting a pancreatic pseudocyst with the pericardium and the right pleural cavit y. Massive pericardial and right pleural effusion is an extremely rare complication of chronic pancreatitis. In this case, computed tomograp hy and endoscopic retrograde pancreatography were useful for diagnosin g the fistula.