Bilothorax as a rare sign of intra-abdominal bile leak in a patient without peritonitis

Abstract

We present the case of a 60-year-old patient who developed a right-sided bilothorax following para-aortic lymph node sampling. Bilothorax is a very rare condition, with most of the reported cases resulting from direct flow of bile from the biliary system to the pleural space through a fistula or other defect in the diaphragm. In this case, there was no obvious communication found between peritoneal and pleural spaces. Our patient proceeded to an exploratory laparotomy following this finding in the absence of peritonitis. Bilothorax should be considered in patients who develop a progressive pleural effusion following upper gastrointestinal surgery, particularly if it involves manipulation of the biliary system.