Urinothorax: presentation of a new case as pleural exudate.

Abstract

Urinothorax or urothorax (UT) is a rare condition which often goes undiagnosed. In published cases of UT, the pleural fluid is usually transudative and is very rarely exudative. We present a case of UT after right nephroureterectomy for urothelial carcinoma, in which the pleural fluid presented characteristics of exudate. The diagnosis of UT was confirmed with the finding of a pleural/serum creatinine ratio above one and after demonstrating the presence of a postsurgical urinoma in the right renal fossa. UT should be included in the differential diagnosis of pleural effusion in patients with a recent urinary tract disorder, even when it is pleural exudate.

• Authors: Roberto Bernabeu Mora, Carmen Marín Silvente, Juan Miguel Sánchez Nieto, Maria Angeles Chans Cuervo
• Journal: Southern medical journal (South Med J) Vol. 103 Issue 9 Pg. 931-3 (Sep 2010) ISSN: 1541-8243 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 20689489 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Creatinine

Topics

• Aged, 80 and over
• Creatinine (analysis)
• Exudates and Transudates
• Female
• Humans
• Kidney (abnormalities)
• Laparoscopy
• Nephrectomy
• Pleural Effusion (diagnosis)
• Postoperative Complications
• Ureter (surgery)
• Urine
• Urinoma (diagnosis)