title: Pancreatic mediastinal pseudocyst presenting as a posterior mediastinal mass with recurrent pleural effusions: a case report and review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A rare complication of chronic pancreatitis is the formation of single or multiple mediastinal pseudocysts, which are fueled from the pancreas through anatomical openings of the diaphragm. We present a rare case with a difficult diagnosis, treatment and potentially catastrophic complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 53-year-old Caucasian man was referred to our hospital for further investigation and treatment of a large heterogeneous mass situated in the posterior mediastinum, and bilateral pleural effusions which had developed after recent multiple episodes of pancreatitis. He had a history of chronic alcoholism. Laboratory and imaging modalities established the diagnosis of a pancreatic mediastinal pseudocyst.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite successful initial conservative treatment, our patient had a relapse and underwent emergency surgical intervention due to internal hemorrhage. We present his diagnostic and imaging workup, along with the multidisciplinary intervention, and a literature review referring to the diagnosis and treatment of mediastinal pancreatic pseudocysts.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Department, University Hospital of Patras, Rion, 26500, Greece. vkaramouzos@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Vasilis
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Karamouzos
authors.affiliation: General Surgery Department, University Hospital of Patras, Rion, 26500, Greece. dimitriskaravias@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Karavias
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Department, University Hospital of Patras, Rion, 26500, Greece. dsiagris@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Siagris
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department, University Hospital of Patras, Rion, 26500, Greece. chrkalogeropoulou@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kalogeropoulou
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Department, University Hospital of Patras, Rion, 26500, Greece. faykosmopoulou@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Fay
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kosmopoulou
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Department, University Hospital of Patras, Rion, 26500, Greece. lambisgogos@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Charalampos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gogos
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Department, University Hospital of Patras, Rion, 26500, Greece. dimitrisvelissaris@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Velissaris
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D010179:Pancreas / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D010192:Pancreatic Pseudocyst / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D050500:Pancreatitis, Chronic / Q000150:complications*; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed