title: Pleurocutaneous fistula after tube thoracostomy: sonographic findings.
abstract: Pleurocutaneous fistula is defined as a pathologic communication between the pleural space and the subcutaneous tissues. It can occur as a complication of an infectious process, neoplasm, foreign body aspiration, or iatrogenic procedures. Diagnosis is usually made on imaging studies, such as CT. We describe a 72-year-old woman with esophageal cancer who underwent chest tube placement for postesophagectomy drainage. After removal of the chest tube, a right chest wall mass was noted. Transcutaneous sonographic evaluation confirmed the diagnosis of pleurocutaneous fistula.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ming-Tzer
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Jin-Yuan
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: Yung-Chie
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Pan-Chyr
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015505:Chest Tubes / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017577:Cutaneous Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D013907:Thoracostomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014463:Ultrasonography