A 51-year-old man who drank about 3 L/day of alcohol was admitted to our hospital with abdominal distention. The serum amylase was 367 IU/l, serum lipase was 165 IU/l, and the ascitic cell count and amylase level were 1,764IU/l and 8,732 IU/l, respectively. Contrast-enhanced CT and MRCP revealed a massive pleural effusion and ascites, and dilatation of the pancreatic duct branches with an additional parenchymal pseudocyst at the pancreatic head. ERCP showed communication between the pancreatic duct and the pseudocyst. A 5F, 5-cm pancreatic stent was placed, and the symptom gradually improved. Subsequent follow-up CT and X-ray revealed marked improvement. On the 45th day, the patient was discharged from the hospital without any symptoms or complications.
Decompression of the pancreatic duct by pancreatic stent placement may be useful for the treatment of pancreatic ascites and pleural effusion.
