Loculated hydrothorax: an unusual complication of hepatic cirrhosis.

A 67-year-old man with hepatic cirrhosis caused by alcoholism and with no cardiopulmonary history was admitted for symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy secondary to constipation. The chest X-ray showed a radio-opaque lesion, rounded with regular edges in the left hemithorax that was not present in previous check-ups (Fig. 1). Empirical antibiotic treatment was started due to suspected pneumonia. In the thorax CT, the collection showed smooth, regular edges and content with “water” density, suggesting the possibility of loculated intrathoracic ascites (Fig. 2). The patient’s symptoms rapidly improved, but the above lesion persisted on discharge, disappearing after a month of diuretic therapy (Fig. 3). Loculated hydrothorax: An unusual complication of hepatic cirrhosis