Biliothorax: A Rare Case of Dyspnea
Rodrigo Rufino, Daniela Rodrigues, Marta Carinhas, Vera Luís, António Cardoso
TL;DR
This paper presents a rare case of biliothorax, a condition where bile enters the pleural cavity, causing severe breathing difficulty.
Contribution
The novelty lies in reporting a rare clinical case of biliothorax with diagnostic and management insights.
Findings
Biliothorax was confirmed through imaging and thoracentesis in an 87-year-old female.
The effusion liquid was dark greenish, a key diagnostic clue.
Prompt diagnosis is crucial to prevent life-threatening complications.
Abstract
Biliothorax is the presence of bile in the pleural cavity. This condition is rare, and it usually results as a complication of hepatobiliary procedures. The authors present a case of an 87-year-old female who was admitted to the emergency department with the acute onset of severe dyspnea. A chest X-ray and CT revealed a large right-lung pleural effusion that, after thoracentesis, confirmed the presence of biliothorax. It is important to consider this entity when confronted with an effusion liquid of a dark greenish color, as a delay in diagnosis and management may be life-threatening.
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Taxonomy
TopicsGallbladder and Bile Duct Disorders · Medical Imaging and Pathology Studies · Pleural and Pulmonary Diseases