Dark Streaks and Yellow Exudates: Pleuroscopic Clues in Recurrent Post‐Traumatic Pleural Effusion

ABSTRACT

Thoracic splenosis is a well‐documented yet clinically elusive sequela of combined splenic rupture and diaphragmatic trauma, classically presenting years after initial injury as unexplained pleural effusions or dark hypervascular pleural nodules. This case illustrates a critical diagnostic pitfall: small superficial forceps biopsies of suspected ectopic splenomas routinely harvest only the reactive fibrous capsule, yielding non‐specific inflammatory histology that can obscure unconfirmed thoracic splenosis while requiring careful differentiation from tuberculous pleuritis and pleural malignancy.