Pleuropericardial effusion as a presenting feature raises the possibility of infectious, neoplastic and connective tissue disorders.1 However, unusual pathophysiological mechanisms may sometimes pose a diagnostic conundrum in certain clinical contexts. Simultaneous pleuropericardial effusion secondary to obstructive uropathy is such a rare scenario with no report mentioned in the published literature.

A 62-year-old man presented with progressive dyspnoea and left flank pain for 1 month. A CT scan revealed massive left-sided effusion, mild pericardial effusion (figure 1A,B) and a large staghorn calculi in the left kidney causing grade 4 hydronephrosis (figure 2A,B). Therapeutic thoracentesis revealed a straw-coloured transudative effusion with sugar of 44 mg/dL, lactate dehydrogenase of 250 U/L and pleural fluid creatinine of 12.2 mg/dL against a serum creatinine of 1.5 mg/dL (ratio 8.13 : 1) confirming the diagnosis of urinothorax.2 His thyroid profile, autoimmune markers, HIV serology and other workup for secondary causes of pleuropericardial effusion were unrewarding. He underwent percutaneous nephrostomy followed by left nephrectomy with complete resolution of pleural and pericardial effusion and the pleural draining catheter was removed uneventfully. The common embryologic development of the pleuropericardial cavities and the existing lymphatic communications of the pleura, pericardium and diaphragm might be the pathogenetic mechanism responsible for the formation of secondary pericardial effusion in our case.3 The complete resolution of the pericardial effusion without the need for drainage after the urology procedure further establishes its direct relationship with the obstructive uropathy. Pleuropericardial effusion secondary to obstructive uropathy, though rare, thus should be kept in mind by the astute physician in the appropriate clinical context.

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Figure 1

Scanogram (A) and oblique coronal non-contrast CT scan images of the chest and abdomen (B) showing pericardial and left pleural effusion with staghorn calculi in the left kidney (arrowheads, pericardial effusion; white arrow, pleural effusion; black arrow, staghorn calculi).

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Figure 2

Axial non-contrast CT scan images of the chest (A) and abdomen (B) revealed pericardial and left pleural effusion with staghorn calculi in the left kidney causing grade 4 hydronephrosis (arrowheads, pericardial effusion; white arrow, pleural effusion; black arrow, staghorn calculi).