A CASE OF PANCREATIC PLEURAL EFFUSION SUCCESSFULLY TREATED WITH ENDOSCOPIC NASOPANCREATIC DRAINAGE AND OCTREOTIDE ACETATE

Abstract

A 68-year-old man complained of dyspnea. He was a heavy drinker and had been diagnosed as having chronic pancreatitis when he was 64 years old. Chest X-ray showed a right pleural effusion ; biochemical analyses of the pleural effusion demonstrated significantly high amylase levels. CT and MRCP images showed a cystic lesion ; a pancreatopleural fistula was suspected. An ENPD tube was placed in the distal main pancreatic duct, and octreotide acetate therapy was instituted. Even though the pleural effusion resolved after treatment, pancreatic cancer could not be ruled out. Thus, surgery was performed. Since no cancer was found, a pancreatojejunostomy was performed as a radical treatment. His postoperative course was uneventful. Currently, he is doing well and has no complaints.