Bilateral pleural effusion due to mediastinal fibrosis induced by radiotherapy

A diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease was made 20 years ago in a 37-year-old woman; treatment included thoracic irradiation and chemotherapy. She was considered cured and remained well up to one year before, when she developed bilateral pleural effusion. No evidence of activity of Hodgkin's disease was detected. The pleural liquid was an exudate, with lymphocytic predominance. On thoracoscopy, enlarged lymphatic channels in the visceral pleura were noted, with tissue confirmation. To our knowledge, this report is the first to confirm by thoracoscopy and histologic study the proposed pathophysiologic condition of this uncommon entity.