Duropleural fistula revealed by neurological manifestations: an unusual cause of pleural effusion.
Symptomatic pleural collection of cerebrospinal fluid is a rare but accepted complication in hydrocephalic paediatric patients treated with ventriculopleural shunts. Few cases have been described in adults, usually as complication of trauma, tumours or spinal surgery, particularly post-laminectomy. It should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pleural effusion after neurosurgical procedures involving the spine. We describe two patients with large cerebrospinal fluid collections in the pleural cavity caused by postoperative duropleural fistula, who presented with neurological symptoms, cerebrospinal fluid pressure headache and meningitis.
Maskin
L P
LP
Raul Carrea Neurological Research Institute, Foundation to Prevent Neurological Diseases in Childhood, Buenos Aires, Argentina. p_maskin@yahoo.com
Raimondi
A
A
Hlavnicka
A
A
Díaz
M F
MF
Roura
N
N
Wainsztein
N
N
D004388:Dura Mater / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010292:Paresthesia / Q000209:etiology; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000209:etiology*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D016284:Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D016284:Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate