Bilothorax: A Case Report and Systematic Literature Review of the Rare Entity

Background

Bilothorax is defined as the presence of bile in the pleural space. It is a rare condition, and diagnosis is confirmed with a pleural fluid-to-serum bilirubin ratio of >1.

Methods

The PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, and CINAHL databases were searched using predetermined Boolean parameters. The systematic literature review was done per PRISMA guidelines. Retrospective studies, case series, case reports, and conference abstracts were included. The patients with reported pleural fluid analyses were pooled for fluid parameter data analysis.

Results

Of 838 articles identified through the inclusion criteria and removing 105 duplicates, 732 articles were screened with abstracts, and 285 were screened for full article review. After this, 123 studies qualified for further detailed review, and of these, 115 were pooled for data analysis. The mean pleural fluid and serum bilirubin levels were 72 mg/dL and 61 mg/dL, respectively, with a mean pleural fluid-to-serum bilirubin ratio of 3.47. In most cases, the bilothorax was reported as a subacute or remote complication of hepatobiliary surgery or procedure, and traumatic injury to the chest or abdomen was the second most common cause. Tube thoracostomy was the main treatment modality (73.83%), followed by serial thoracentesis. Fifty-two patients (51.30%) had associated bronchopleural fistulas. The mortality was considerable, with 18/115 (15.65%) reported death. Most of the patients with mortality had advanced hepatobiliary cancer and were noted to die of complications not related to bilothorax.

Conclusion

Bilothorax should be suspected in patients presenting with pleural effusion following surgical manipulation of hepatobiliary structures or a traumatic injury to the chest. This review is registered with CRD42023438426.

Mediastinal pancreatic pseudocyst diagnosed based on black pleural effusion

Mediastinal pancreatic pseudocysts are rare complications of pancreatitis associated with alcohol consumption. Here, we report a case of mediastinal pancreatic pseudocyst. A 61-year-old Japanese woman presented to our hospital with epigastric pain and dyspnea. A chest radiograph revealed right-sided massive pleural effusion. Thoracentesis retrieved black pleural fluid with remarkably high fluid amylase levels were. Thoracic computed tomography (CT) after drainage revealed encapsulated fluid. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) were performed because abdominal CT and ultrasonography did not reveal any pancreatic problems. MRCP showed cystic masses and pancreatic tail cysts extending to the stomach and lower oesophagus. ERCP confirmed leakage of contrast medium from the pancreatic tail into the retroperitoneum. We diagnosed the patient with a pancreatic pseudocyst extending to the mediastinum. A mediastinal pancreatic pseudocyst should be considered a differential diagnosis in patients with black pleural fluid with a high amylase level.

Three cases of black pleural effusion

Black pleural effusions (BPE) are rare, exudative pleural effusions that produce a black fluid on thoracentesis. While the name and definition of this pathology is undeniably simple, the etiologies, outcomes, and treatments for BPE are incredibly complex. Currently, BPE is not well-demonstrated in the literature. This case series reports three patients with different etiologies, past medical histories, presenting symptoms, treatments, and outcomes. BPE caused by pancreatic-pleural fistula and opportunistic infections are demonstrated in this case series. This report shows that early identification and treatment of the underlying cause of BPE is critical to the recovery of the patients.

Black pleural effusion caused by a pancreaticopleural fistula associated with autoimmune pancreatitis: A case report

RATIONALE

Black pleural effusion is a rare medical condition and a diagnostic marker. Pancreaticopleural fistula is one of the causes of black pleural effusion. Thus far, black pleural effusions caused by pancreaticopleural fistulae have mostly been reported in patients with alcohol-induced chronic pancreatitis. In this report, we present a case of black pleural effusion caused by a pancreaticopleural fistula associated with autoimmune pancreatitis.

PATIENT CONCERNS AND DIAGNOSIS

A 59-year-old female without a history of alcohol drinking presented to our hospital with a chief complaint of dyspnea, as well as chest and back discomfort. She had left pleural effusion, and thoracentesis showed black pleural effusion. Computed tomography revealed the presence of encapsulated fluid from the pancreatic tail to the left pleural cavity, which was diagnosed as a pancreaticopleural fistula. It also showed diffuse pancreatic swelling. Serum testing showed a high IgG4 level (363 mg/dL). These findings led to the diagnosis of autoimmune pancreatitis.

INTERVENTIONS AND OUTCOME

The patient underwent endoscopic pancreatic sphincterotomy and pancreatic duct stent placement and received treatment with steroids. After treatment, there was no further accumulation of pleural effusion observed.

CONCLUSION

This is the first report of black pleural effusion due to a pancreaticopleural fistula associated with autoimmune pancreatitis. The characteristic appearance of black pleural effusion may assist diagnosis. We report this case to emphasize that autoimmune pancreatitis can be a cause of black pleural effusion.

Etiology, pathological characteristics, and clinical management of black pleural effusion: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Pleural effusion is characterized by excessive fluid collection in the pleural cavity. Black pleural effusion (BPE) is a rare entity with only limited scientific data. We aimed to review the current literature on black pleural effusion to characterize demographics, etiology, clinical presentation, pathological findings, available treatment strategies, and prognosis of this rare condition.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review of case reports and series and synthesized data on demographics, manifestations, management, and outcomes of patients with BPE. We searched Cochrane Library, PubMed, SCOPUS, and Google Scholar for any date until January 10, 2021. All studies (n = 31) that reported black pleural effusion in patients were added to the review. Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews registration number: CRD42020213839. Summary and descriptive analysis was performed on Jamovi version 1.2.

RESULTS

The mean age of 32 patients with BPE was 53 years, with male predominance (69%). The commonest risk factor was smoking (n = 9) followed by alcohol intake (n = 8). Dyspnea was the commonest symptom (n = 24, 75%). Pleural fluid was mostly exudative (n = 21). The commonest associated diagnosis was malignancy (n = 14), with 50% secondary to metastatic melanoma. The commonest intervention was therapeutic thoracocentesis (n = 25, 78%), and the effusion recurred in half of the cases where recurrence was reported (n = 13). In our review, we found the mortality rate to be at 20.8% (n = 20.8%). 58.3% of the patients were successfully treated and discharged home (n = 14).

CONCLUSION

Although rare, BPE appears to be a relevant symptom as it seems to be frequently associated with modifiable risk factors and underlying malignancy. Our systematic review substantiates a vital research gap as observational research is imperative to characterize BPE further and form a basis for designing tailored diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic strategies for BPE.

Fade to black!

Black pleural effusion is a rare entity and may be a diagnostic dilemma. This interactive case discusses the various steps involved to reach the diagnosis. https://bit.ly/3dFJPTS.

Black pleural effusion: etiology, diagnosis, and treatment

Introduction

Black pleural effusion (BPE) is an extremely rare entity. This review aims to increase the attention of thoracic physicians and surgeons to the differential diagnosis and management of unfamiliar cases with BPE.

Methods

Searching MEDLINE, Pubmed, and Web of Science databases with the words of "black pleural effusion" in title/abstract yielded 86 articles relevant to the topic of the review. There were only 20 case reports describing BPE with different underlying causes.

Results

BPE may occur as a result of fungal Aspergillus niger or Rhizopus oryzae infection, metastatic melanoma, pancreaticopleural fistula (PPF), hemolysis after massive intrapleural bleeding, or other miscellaneous causes. A stepwise approach should be followed for diagnosis of BPE including chest x-ray, diagnostic thoracocentesis, cytology and culture of the pleural fluid, thoracic or thoraco-abdominal computed tomography (CT), and tissue biopsy for pathological examination. Pleural fluid drainage is a sufficient treatment of BPE in most of the cases, and pleurodesis can be performed as part of palliative care. The definite treatment of the underlying causes of BPE, namely, pulmonary aspergillosis, metastatic melanoma, pulmonary adenocarcinoma, or PPF, is mandatory to achieve favorable outcome.

Conclusions

BPE is not a common clinical condition which may hide a critical disease including invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, metastatic melanoma, lung cancer, and PPF, thus awareness of this rare entity is crucial to prevent subsequent complications and to avoid delayed diagnosis of the underlying cause.

A new diagnostic approach for bilious pleural effusion

BACKGROUND

Bilious pleural effusion is an extremely rare condition associated with liver diseases, subphrenic or subhepatic abscess formation, biliary peritonitis, and invasive procedures (i.e., percutaneous biliary drainage or liver biopsy). The current diagnostic test is based on the measurement of the ratio of pleural total bilirubin to serum total bilirubin, which is greater than 1 in patients with bilious pleural effusion. Given the low incidence of bilious pleural effusion, the precise diagnostic yield of this ratio based test has not been evaluated.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of our institution and searched the PubMed database for reports of bilious pleural effusion.

RESULTS

We identified a total of 12 cases of bilious pleural effusion (9 from 8 Pubmed reports and 3 from our institutional records). The factors causing this condition were broadly classified into three categories based on the pathophysiology: 1) liver diseases (echinococcosis, tuberculosis and amebiasis); 2) subhepatic/subphrenic abscess or biliary peritonitis, with or without biliary tract obstruction; and 3) iatrogenic disease after percutaneous biliary drainage and/or liver biopsy. The sensitivity of detection was 76.9% when the ratio of pleural total bilirubin to serum total bilirubin was greater than 1. The sensitivity increased to 100% when a combination test including pleural glycoholic acid was adopted.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates the high diagnostic yield for bilious pleural effusion using a combination of two test criteria; a ratio of pleural total bilirubin to serum total bilirubin greater than 1 and the presence of pleural glycoholic acid.

Black pleural effusion

BACKGROUND

Black pleural effusions are extremely rare and have been reported in patients with infection, malignancy, and hemorrhage. However, no review articles appear to have focused on this rare clinical presentation.

PURPOSE

To classify and characterize diseases causing "black pleural effusion" based on the pathophysiological mechanisms involved.

METHODS

We searched the medical literature to find reports of "black pleural effusion" using the PubMed database.

RESULTS

We identified 8 cases and classified the underlying diseases into the following 4 entities based on pathophysiological conditions: 1) infection (Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus oryzae); 2) malignant melanoma, in which cells contain melanin pigment; 3) hemorrhage and hemolysis associated with non-small cell lung cancer or rupture of a pancreatic pseudocyst; and 4) other causes (charcoal-containing empyema). Discrimination between biliopleural fistula and pancreatico-pleural fistula, which also mimicking in color, was easily achieved by focusing on pleural amylase levels, elevation of pleural indirect bilirubin, presence of pleural glycoholic acid, and the predominant site of pleural effusion.

CONCLUSION

Black pleural effusions can be divided into 4 major categories based on the underlying pathophysiological conditions.