A 54-Year-Old Man With Anasarca, Dyspnea, and Recurrent Bilateral Pleural Effusions

Chest. 2017 Aug;152(2):e39-e44. doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2017.03.018.

Abstract

A 54-year-old African-American man presented with 2 years of progressively worsening dyspnea and anasarca. Over the past 6 months he gained 30 lbs with worsening lower extremity, abdominal wall, and scrotal edema. A recent workup for cardiac, renal, and liver disease, including two-dimensional echocardiogram, liver and renal function tests, and abdominal ultrasound, was unremarkable. He reported a 15-pack year history of smoking and quit 3 years ago. Chest radiograph at that time revealed bilateral pleural effusions that were both reportedly milky in appearance when drained by thoracenteses.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Amyloidosis / diagnosis*
  • Amyloidosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Chylothorax / diagnostic imaging
  • Chylothorax / etiology
  • Dyspnea / etiology
  • Edema / diagnostic imaging
  • Edema / etiology
  • Humans
  • Lung Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung Diseases / etiology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pleural Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Pleural Diseases / etiology*
  • Pleural Effusion / etiology
  • Pulmonary Edema / diagnostic imaging*
  • Pulmonary Edema / etiology*
  • Recurrence
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed