Role of diaphragm in pancreaticopleural fistula.

A pancreatic pleural effusion may result from a pancreatopleural fistula. We herein discuss two interesting issues in a similar case report of a pleural effusion caused after splenectomy, which was recently published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology. Pancreatic exudate passes directly through a natural hiatus in the diaphragm or by direct penetration through the dome of the diaphragm from a neighboring subdiaphragmatic collection. The diaphragmatic lymphatic "stomata" does not contribute to the formation of such a pleural effusion, as it is inaccurately mentioned in that report. A strictly conservative approach is recommended in that article as the management of choice. Although this may be an option in selected frail patients, there has been enough accumulative evidence that a pancreaticopleural fistula may be best managed by early endoscopy in order to avoid complications causing prolonged hospitalization.