A case of intrathoracic extension of retroperitoneal fibrosis

: A 70-year-old man was diagnosed as having retroperitoneal fibrosis 12 years ago. The patient was admitted to our hospital with complaints of fever and left chest pain. On admission, chest radiography revealed left pleural effusion and left pleural thickening. Percutaneous pleural biopsy was performed, and the pleural tissue gave a chronic inflammatory reaction characterized by proliferation of collagen fibers and chronic inflammatory cellular infiltration. Since the retroperitoneal fibrosis had been diagnosed in similar tissue, it was considered that this condition had extended to the pleura. On administration of prednisolone, the intrathoracic lesions and clinical symptoms were improved, but the patient later died of pneumonia. Autopsy showed fibrous pleuritis and chronic fibrosing lung disease. This was an extremely rare case. Prednisolone appears to be useful in the treatment of intrathoracic extension of retroperitoneal fibrosis.