Large intrathoracic collection secondary to acute chronic pancreatitis displacing large hiatal hernia, an uncommon presentation.

Abstract

The case of a 60-year-old woman with a history of chronic alcoholism and chronic liver disease is presented as a clinical case. During a hospitalization, a diagnostic imaging test reveals a possible complicated chronic pancreatitis with multiple abdominal collections. Of note is the displacement of one of the collections at the thoracic level along with a pre-existing large hiatal hernia, which, in turn, is compressed and laterally displaced by the collection, causing abdominal pain and dyspnea in the patient.

Literature on intrathoracic collections secondary to complicated chronic pancreatitis is scarce. Therefore, in a patient presenting with typical abdominal pain of pancreatitis and dyspnea, it is mandatory to consider this condition in the broad differential diagnosis that needs to be established.

Keywords: hernia, collection, pancreatitis.