Ascites and right pleural effusion: demonstration of a peritoneo-pleural communication.
A 54-yr-old female with known liver cirrhosis presented with a right transudative pleural effusion and ascites. To find the source of pleural fluid, [99mTc]sulfur colloid was injected intraperitoneally and a serial imaging study revealed its passage to the right pleural space on 2-hr and 24-hr images. Mechanisms proposed in the formation of pleural effusion in liver cirrhosis are (a) lymphatic drainage and (b) diaphragmatic defect. Radioisotope migration speed may be a clue for differentiating these two mechanisms, being more rapid in the presence of a diaphragmatic defect.
D001201:Ascites / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D010532:Peritoneal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000209:etiology*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013671:Technetium Tc 99m Sulfur Colloid
D013671:Technetium Tc 99m Sulfur Colloid