The value of preoperative imaging techniques in patients with chronic pancreatic pleural effusions

Four patients with chronic pancreatitis and internal pancreatic fistulae to the left pleura are presented. ERCP was done in three of the patients and demonstrated the fistulae in all. In the forth patient CT gave valuable information. In patients with suspicion of internal pancreatico-pleural fistulae we recommend preoperative ERCP for demonstration of the internal demarcations of the ductal and fistula systems and CT for delineation of the external boundaries and relationships of the pathological lesions.