Bilious pleural effusion from metastatic serous adenocarcinoma of the ovary: A case report

Introduction: The pleural cavity is the most common extra-abdominal site for ovarian cancer metastasis. It can, however, be difficult to diagnose ovarian malignancy from the presence of a pleural effusion alone. Case Report: A 50-year-old premenopausal woman who presented with a large, right-sided, bilious pleural effusion subsequently diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer. Conclusion: Metastatic ovarian carcinoma should be considered in appropriate populations when another, more obvious source of the pleural effusion is not evident. In bilious effusions, an overt tract may not be visualized despite appropriate diagnostic imaging and gastrointestinal studies. In these cases, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) can provide a definitive diagnosis and potential therapeutic interventions by selecting patients who could benefit from surgical and chemotherapeutic interventions.