췌장염 증상없이 췌장-흉막루를 통해 발생한 흉막저류

Pleural Effusion and Pancreatico-Pleural Fistula Associated with Asymptomatic Pancreatic Disease

만성 췌장질환에 의한 흉막삼출은 췌장염 증상없이 대량으로 발생하기도 한다. 이런 경우 흉막액내 아밀라제의 현저한 증가는 췌장질환의 발견에 도움이 되며 대부분 보존적 췌장염 치료로 호전된다. 저자들은 췌장염 증상없이 흉막저류가 발생한 환자에서 흉막액내 아밀라제 증가를 발견하여 복부 및 흉부 전산화 단층촬영으로 췌장가낭종과 췌장-흉막루를 진단하고 보존적 치료로 호전되었기에 보고하는 바이다.

Effusions arising from acute pancreatitis are usually small, left sided and self limiting. The incidence of pleural effusions in acute pancreatitis is reported between 3% and 17%. In chronic pancreatitis, as a consequence of fistula and pancreatitic pseudocyst formation or by spontaneous rupture of a pancreatic psudocyst directly into thoracic cavity, extremely large effusions may be seen. When the underlying pacreatic disease is asymptomatic, the diagnosis is made by measuring the amylase content of the pleural fluid. We experience a case of left sided pleural effusions caused by pancreatico-pleural fistula associated with pancreatic pseudocyst. The diagnosis was made by measuring of pleural fluid amylase level(80000U/L). Abdominal CT scan revealed pancreatic pseudocyct and pancreatitis with extension to left pleural space through esophageal hiatus and extension to left subdiaphragmatic space. Left pleural effusions were decreased after fasting, total parenteral nutrition and percutaneous pleural fluid catheter drainage. We reported a case of pleural effusions and pacreatico-pleural fistula asssociated with asymptomatic pancreatic disease with review of literatures.