Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2025

Local Anesthetic Thoracoscopy for Undiagnosed Pleural Effusion
Published on: November 10, 2023
Embryological, anatomical and clinical considerations on pleuroperitoneal communication
Christodoulos Chatzigrigoriadis1, Anastasios Goulioumis2, Despoina Sperdouli1
1School of Medicine, University of Patras, Patras, Greece.
Abstract:
The pleural and peritoneal cavity share many related features due to their common celomic origin. Normally these two spaces are completely separated with the development of the diaphragm. Defects in diaphragm morphogenesis may result in congenital diaphragmatic hernias, which is the most known form of communication between the pleural and peritoneal cavity. However, in several cases, findings of pleuroperitoneal communication (PPC) have been described in adults through an apparently intact diaphragm. In this comprehensive review we systematically evaluate clinical scenarios of this form of "unexpected" PPC as reported in the literature and focus on the possible mechanisms involved.
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