Pleurography in Encapsulated Effusion

Abstract

Encapsulated pleural effusion was investigated radiographically in 4 patients by injection of a non-ionic water-soluble contrast medium (Amipaque) into the encapsulated site. Demonstration of the presence and extent of the cavities and their size and form was thereby achieved.

Encapsulated pleural effusion may be suspected when chest radiography demonstrates a pleural abnormality that fluctuates in shape with respiration but retains its dorsal position in projections with the patient leaning forward (4, 5). The present report concerns the value of introduction of a non-ionic water-soluble contrast medium (Amipaque, Nyegaard) into the pleura for direct assessment of the extent of encapsulated pleural effusion. This simple procedure has not been described in the available literature, although it has been applied similarly in single isolated cases for other purposes (1–3).