A Case of Recurrent Massive Pleural Transudate by Unilateral Pulmonary Venous Obstrucion

A 27 years old male developed right-sided massive, recurrent, pleural transudate. EKG and echocardiogram showed right ventricular hypertropy. Chest X-ray and concurrent perfusion lung scan, performed after enough expansion of the right lung by drainage of the effusion through small cathter, showed that perfusion defect mismatched with the roentgenographic defect, which was likely to be a high probability of pulmonary thromboembolism. By cardiac catherization and pulmonary angiography the occlusion of pulmonary veins drained from the upper and middle lobe of the right lung could be revealed. More precise cause of occlusion couldn't be clear up because thoracotomy had to have been dangerous due to severe pulmonary hypertension. So the massive reurrent effusion was treated by repeated tetracycline instilations through chest tube and he was discharged. After following up 14 months at out-patient clinic, he expired because of sudden massive hemoptysis.