Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) typically presents with abdominal pain, ascites, and hepatomegaly [1-2]. Bilateral pleural effusion without ascites is a rare presentation of BCS [3]. A 51-year-old female presented with right-sided abdominal pain with recurrent bilateral pleural effusions for 3 months. She was referred for recurrent dyspnea that required repeated thoracentesis. Pleural fluid analysis...

BACKGROUND AND AIM The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship of pleural adenosine deaminase (P-ADA) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). DESIGN AND METHODS We retrospectively analysed 63 NHL patients with pleural effusions who accepted a diagnostic thoracentesis and who had P-ADA available at the China Medical University Hospital (Taichung, Taiwan) between January 2003 and April 2...

OBJECTIVE To quantify pepsinogen C (PEPC) and prostaglandin D synthase (PGDS) in breast cyst fluid and examine if these two parameters can be used for breast cyst type classification. DESIGN AND METHODS We quantified PEPC and PGDS in 92 and 50 breast cyst fluids, respectively, using previously established immunofluorometric procedures. We then examined if the levels of PEPC or PGDS correlate ...

We thank Drs Apostolakis and Baikoussis for their comments and suggestions [1]. After pulmonary lobectomies, we recommend using two tubes only in patients in whom a higher incidence of haemorrhage is expected, as we implied in the conclusion section of our article [2]. Patients having dense pleural adhesions (who needed extrapleural dissection or not) or having bleeding diathesis or have underg...

We present the case of a 52-year-old male, smoker who drinks approximately 60 g of alcohol daily and is under observation for atrial fibrillation and an Ebstein anomaly that was causing massive tricuspid regurgitation (TR) and right heart failure (RHF), treated with diuretics. He was admitted due to a notable clinical worsening with severe ascites. A chest radiograph showed the presence of a le...

AIM To determine by morphometry if pleural biopsies with the histopathological diagnosis of "non-specific pleuritis", malignant, and tuberculous disease could be distinguished morphologically from those with truly non-specific disease. METHODS Each pleural biopsy was reviewed taking into account three compartments of reference: the visceral/parietal mesothelial compartment, the submesothelial...

To cite: Champsi A, Ali M. BMJ Case Rep Published online: [please include Day Month Year] doi:10.1136/ bcr-2016-215021 DESCRIPTION A 43-year-old man was referred to a specialised liver unit with progressive abdominal distension and sarcopoenia. He had a background of moderate-to-high alcohol intake. His exercise tolerance was appropriate for his age, and he denied having had exertional dyspnoea...

Background: Pleural effusion is a common clinical problem resulting from thoracic or systemic diseases. Several biochemical parameters, serological and cytological markers are used to classify the type of pleural effusion. The oldest classification is Light’s criteria which categorizes exudates by meeting one of these criteria: Pleural to serum protein ratio> 0.5, pleural to serum LDH ratio> 0....

To cite: Kumar S, Lata S, Patidar Y. Thorax Published Online First: [please include Day Month Year] doi:10.1136/thoraxjnl-2013203954 Pleuropericardial effusion as a presenting feature raises the possibility of infectious, neoplastic and connective tissue disorders. However, unusual pathophysiological mechanisms may sometimes pose a diagnostic conundrum in certain clinical contexts. Simultaneous...

Freitas DMM, et al. BMJ Case Rep 2017. doi:10.1136/bcr-2017-219949 Description A 73-year-old woman without a history of cardiovascular disease was admitted to the hospital with progressive dyspnoea on exertion during the past several weeks, bilateral lower extremity oedema, orthopnoea and paroxistic nocturnal dyspnoea. She lived a few metres away from a badly preserved building containing asbes...