Diffrential Diagnosis of Hepatic Hydrothorax by 99mTc Sulfur Colloid Peritoneal Scintigraphy: Two Cases

Abstract

Large symptomatic pleural effusions can be seen in cirrhotic patients with ascites. In this report, two cirrhotic patients with ascites and large pleural effusions were evaluated. To determine the cause of pleural effusion and to understand whether there was a communication of fluid between peritoneal and pleural cavities, 99mTc sulfur colloid peritoneal scintigraphy was used. According to the scintigraphic results, the diagnosis of hepatic hydrothorax and tuberculosis was confirmed easily and the treatments of the patients were managed rapidly.

Routes of Transdiaphragmatic Migration from the Abdomen to the Chest

“…Spontaneous bacterial empyema may develop when bacteria seed from the abdomen. Scintigraphy with intraperitoneal injection of technetium 99m ( 99m Tc)-sulfur colloid or 99m Tc-macroaggregated albumin shows migration of radiotracer activity from the peritoneal to the pleural space (23)(24)(25).…”