Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases

The Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases (대한결핵및호흡기학회)
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A Case of Cholethorax Developed by Unknown Cause

원인불명의 담즙흉 1예

  • Seong, Mun-Hyuk (Department of Internal Medicine, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Sung-Moo (Department of Internal Medicine, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine) ;
  • Yoo, Suk-Hee (Department of Internal Medicine, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine) ;
  • Park, Woo-Ri (Department of Internal Medicine, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine) ;
  • An, Jin-Young (Department of Internal Medicine, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine) ;
  • Choe, Kang-Hyeon (Department of Internal Medicine, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine) ;
  • Lee, Ki-Man (Department of Internal Medicine, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Si-Wook (Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine)
  • 성문혁 (충북대학교 의과대학 내과학교실) ;
  • 김성무 (충북대학교 의과대학 내과학교실) ;
  • 유숙희 (충북대학교 의과대학 내과학교실) ;
  • 박우리 (충북대학교 의과대학 내과학교실) ;
  • 안진영 (충북대학교 의과대학 내과학교실) ;
  • 최강현 (충북대학교 의과대학 내과학교실) ;
  • 이기만 (충북대학교 의과대학 내과학교실) ;
  • 김시욱 (충북대학교 의과대학 흉부외과학교실)
  • Received : 2010.10.22
  • Accepted : 2010.12.17
  • Published : 2011.03.30
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Abstract

Cholethorax is a bilious pleural effusion caused by a pleurobiliary fistula or leakage of bile into the pleural space. Most cases of cholethorax arise from a complication of abdominal trauma, hepatobiliary infection, or invasive procedures or surgery of hepatobiliary system. However, we experienced a case of a patient with cholethorax of unknown origin. There was no evidence of pleurobiliary fistula or leakage of bile from the hepatobiliary system although we examined the patient with various diagnostic tools including chest and abdominal computed tomography, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, tubography, bronchofiberscopy, hepatobiliary scintigraphy and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Herein we report a case of cholethorax for which the specific cause was not identified. The patient was improved by percutaneous drainage of pleural bile.

Keywords

References

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