Biliothorax is a rare but serious condition, as the presence of bile is damaging and can lead to empyema. Here, we report a case of a 51-year-old man recently diagnosed with unresectable cholangiocarcinoma, admitted to the hospital for malignant obstructive jaundice. After interventional management of biliary obstruction, the patient developed a significant right pleural effusion compatible with biliothorax, successfully managed with pleural drainage and antibiotic therapy. Resolution was possible with a conservative approach: biliary decompression, chest tube drainage and antibiotics.
Keywords: Biliothorax; biliary pleural effusion; cholangiocarcinoma; percutaneous biliary drainage.
© 2023 The Authors. Respirology Case Reports published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of The Asian Pacific Society of Respirology.