Biliothorax: A Rare Case of Dyspnea
Rodrigo Rufino1, Daniela Rodrigues1, Marta Carinhas1
1Internal Medicine, Centro Hospitalar Barreiro-Montijo, Barreiro, PRT.
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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