• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.81-86
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• 2005

Massive pancreatic pleural effusion is a rare complication of chronic pancreatitis. It results from leakage of pancreatic secretion into the pleural space through the aortic or esophageal hiatus, either by a pancreatic duct disruption or communicating pseudocyst. The presentation of the pancreatic pleural effusion is often misleading as respiratory rather than abdominal symptoms because of predominance of pulmonary complaints. Markedly elevated amylase level of the pleural fluid is highly suggestive of the diagnosis. We experienced a case of chronic pancreatitis with massive pleural effusion in a 9-year-old female, who presented with a 6-months history of intermittent abdominal pain, and cough and chest pain for 3 days.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.263-267
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• 2009

A pancreatico-pleural fistula (PPF), caused by rupture of a pancreatic pseudocyststectomy or obstruction of the pancreatic duct, is a rare condition. A 48-year-old man with chronic alcoholism was admitted with a massive pleural effusion. Pleural fluid studies revealed elevated amylase and lipase. A PPF complicated by a ruptured pancreatic pseudocyststectomy was diagnosed by computerized tomography scan. Although the symptoms improved with conservative management, (chest tube drainage, NPO, total parenteral nutrition, and a pancreatic secretion inhibitor), a distal pancreatectomy, including a pseudocystectomy and thoracotomy, were performed for an increasing size of the hemorrhagic pancreatic pseudocyststectomy and a recurrent hemorrhagic pleural effusion. There were no post-operative complications and the patient was discharged on post-operative day 27.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.563-569
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• 2003

Background : Pleural effusions with high amylase levels are reported frequently in patients with pancreatic diseases, a rupture of the esophagus and a malignancy. However, there is no data available on the clinical features of an amylase-rich pleural effusion in Korea. This report describes the causes of the high amylase levels in a pleural effusion and analyzes its association with malignancy. Methods : The records of patients with an amylase-rich pleural effusion who were assessed at the Gyeongsang National University Hospital from January 1998 to August 2002 were examined retrospectively, and the distribution of amylase levels in those patients, the causative diseases, and the histological type in the case of a malignancy were analyzed. Among the 532 patients whose pleural effusion was evident on a chest X-ray, there were 36 cases with an amylase-rich pleural effusion. The amylase levels were determined by an enzyme method (Hitach 747 autoanalyzer). Results : Of the 36 patients with an amylase-rich pleural effusion, there were 18 patients(50%) associated with a malignancy, 8 patients(22%) with a parapneumonic effusion, 7 patients(19%) with pancreatic disease, and 3 patients with other causes. The amylase level in a pleural effusion due to pancreatic disease was much higher than that due to other causes(p<0.01). Among the malignant pleural effusions with high amylase levels, the origin of the malignancy was a primary lung cancer in 13 cases and metastatic lung cancer in 5 cases. The histological types of malignant causes were adenocarcinoma in 10 cases(56%), squamous cell carcinoma in 2 cases(11%) and unknown type of carcinoma in 6 cases. The amylase level in the adenocarcinoma cases was much higher than that in the other cell type carcinomas(p<0.01). There was no significant association between the amylase level and the glucose level among the malignant cases with amylase-rich pleural effusion(p=0.21). Conclusion : The most frequent cause of an amylase-rich pleural effusion was a malignancy. Primary lung cancer and adenocarcinoma were the most common malignancies and histological types associated with a malignant pleural effusion with high amylase levels. The amylase level in a pleural effusion secondary to pancreatic disease was much higher than from any other causes.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.98-103
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• 2007

An 8-year-old boy presented with abdominal pain and poor oral intake for two months. Serum amylase and lipase levels were elevated. CT of the abdomen and chest X-ray showed two pseudocysts at the pancreatic uncinate process, pancreatitis with a parenchymal defect, a large amount of ascites, and a right pleural effusion. MR cholangiography and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopanreaticography revealed a pancreatic duct disruption. The patient was successfully treated with a chest tube placement and percutaneous drainage. After surgery, his general condition improved; the serum level of amylase normalized and the pleural effusion resolved. Pancreatic injuries are rare in pediatric blunt trauma; however, diagnostic difficulty is common with isolated blunt trauma. Therefore, a high index of suspicion should follow such an injury. We report the case of an 8-year-old boy with pancreas transection, ductal disruption, ascites, and pleural effusion who was successfully treated.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.226-230
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• 1995

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.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.601-607
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• 2019

Pancreaticopleural fistula (PPF) a fistulous connection between the pancreas and pleural space due to prolonged chronic pancreatitis (CP). PPF is a very rare complication which presents in 0.4% of chronic pancreatitis cases, especially among children. We report a case involving a 3-year-old boy who presented with pleural effusion caused by a PPF, a complication of hereditary pancreatitis, which was, for the first time in Korea, successfully managed with endoscopic treatment. Chest radiography and computed tomography showed massive pleural effusion. Percutaneous catheter drainage was performed. High amylase levels were observed in the pleural fluid and serum, suggesting PPF. The patient was managed with bowel rest and octreotide infusion. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography revealed CP, and pleural effusion was successfully managed with stent placement. PRSS1 genetic screening revealed R122H mutation.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.265-271
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• 1999

Patients with mediastinal teratoma are usually asymptomatic, but may develop symptoms by rupture into adjacent structures which result in pneumonia, hemoptysis, pleural effusion, pericardial effusion, or pneumothorax. Rarely, life-threatening acute respiratory distress require a emergency surgery. Rupture into pleural cavity may result in pleuritis and pleural effusion with severe anterior chest or back pain. The symptom must be differentiated from other common intrathoracic distress diseases. Clinical, cytologic and radiologic examinations of pleural effusion, and moreover, measurement of enzymes such as amylase or insulin, which is secreted from pancreatic tissues, in pleural effusion and cystic fluid enabled us to make the diagnosis of rupture of mediastinal teratoma preoperatively.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.254-259
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• 2017

Mediastinal pancreatic pseudocyst is a rare complication of acute or chronic pancreatitis. Pleural effusion and pneumonia are two of the most common thoracic complications from pancreatic disease, while pancreaticopleural fistula with massive pleural effusion and extension of pseudocyst into the mediastinum is a rare complication of the thorax from pancreatic disease. To the best of our knowledge, there have been no case reports of mediastinal pancreatic pseudocyst-induced esophageal fistula in Korea to date. Here in, we report a case about 43-year-old man of mediastinal pancreatic pseudocyst-induced esophageal fistula presenting with chest pain radiating toward the back and progressive dysphagia. The diagnosis was confirmed by an esophagogastroduodenoscopy and abdomen computed tomography (CT). The patient was treated immediately using a conservative method; subsequently, within 3 days from treatment initiation, symptoms-chest pain and dysphagia- disappeared. In a follow-up gastroscopy 7 days later and abdomen CT 12 days later, mediastinal pancreatic pseudocyst showed signs of improvement, and esophageal fistula disappeared without any complications.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.9 s.266
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• pp.729-732
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• 2006

Mediastinal teratoma is one of the most common lesions found in the anterior mediastinum, accounting for $8\sim13%$ of all mediastinal tumors. This tumor is incidentally detected by routine chest roentgengography, but pericardial perforation or pleural effusion occurs rarely. In our patient cardiac tamponade was developed due to anterior chest wall contusion, we confirmed the anterior mediastinal tumor. Vital signs were stabilized after the pericardiocentesis, and the patient underwent the tumor resection in the anterior mediastinum for a definite treatment. On histologic examination, the tumor revealed cystic structures composed of mature squamous epithelium, pilosebaceous glands, mature fat tissue, gastrointestinal mucosa, respiratory epithelium, and pancreatic tissues.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.194-203
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• 1999

Purpose: Childhood pancreatitis has more various and somewhat different etiology than adult. Until now the analysis of severity in childhood pancreatitis were not well-known, although several studies have been made. Therefore, we studied the etiology and complications in childhood pancreatitis and analyzed whether Ranson and CT criteria could be applicated to evaluate the severity of childhood pancreatitis patients. Methods: The records of 30 patients with pancreatitis under 15 years of ages who were diagnosed in Asan medical center were reviewed. Age, sex, history, etiology, clinical features and treatment was reviewed in all patients but complications, Ranson and CT criteria were available in only 12 patients. Correlation between the number of complications and both Ranson and CT criteria were calculated with Spearman correlation coefficient. Results: 1. Median age at diagnosis was 7.3 years of age. 28 cases were acute pancreatitis and 2 cases were chronic pancreatitis. 2. Etiology: choledochal cyst(8 cases), drug (7 cases), trauma (4 cases), infection (3 cases), biliary stone or bile sludge (3 cases), idiopathic (2 cases) Hemolytic uremic syndrome, pancreatic duct obstruction, iatrogenic (1 case). 3. Local complications were ascites (5 cases), pseudocyts (4 cases) and systemic complications were hyperglycemia (4 cases), hypocalcemia (3 cases), pleural effusion (3 cases), etc. 4. Positive correlation was found between the number of complication and Ranson creteria (r=0.78, P=0.0016) and between the number of complication and CT criteria (r=0.65, P=0.015) in 13 cases. Conclusion: A trial to search the biliary duct anomaly may help to find the causes of childhood idiopathic pancreatitis, and both Ranson and CT criteria can be applicated to pediatric patients to evaluate the severity of childhood pancreatitis.