THE USE OF THE DIAGNOSTIC RADIONUCLIDE ASCITES SCAN TO FACILITATE TREATMENT DECISIONS FOR HEPATIC HYDROTHORAX

A 44-year-old man had an intractable right-sided pleural effusion due to cirrhosis, despite the absence of abdominal ascites. Instillation o f Tc-99m macroaggregated serum albumin under CT guidance into the peri toneal space demonstrated transdiaphragmatic communication. This findi ng indicated the necessity for decompressing the portal system to trea t the hydrothorax. The diagnostic radionuclide ascites scan may play a n important role in the treatment approach to such patients.