Simultaneous presence of ascites and pleural effusion has been documented in patients with cirrhosisof the liver, renal disease, Meigs' syndrome and in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis. Mechanisms proposed in the formation of pleural effusion in most of the above diseases are lymphatic drainage and diaphragmatic defect. But sometimes, hepatic hydrothoraxes in the absence of clinical ascites and pleural effusion secondary to pulmonary or cardiac disease are noted. It is not always possible to differentiate between pleural effusion caused by transdiaphragmatic migration of ascites and by other causes based soly on biochemical analysis. Authors performed radionuclide scintigraphy after intraperitoneal administration of Tc-99m-labeled colloid in 23 patients with both ascites and pleural effusion in order to discriminate causative mechanisms responsible for pleural effusion. Scintigraphy demonstrated the transdiaphtagmatic flow of fluid from the peritoneum to pleural cavities in 13 patients correctly. In contrast, in 5 patients with pleural effusion secondary to pulmonary, pleural and cardiac diseases, radiotracers fail to traverse the diaphragm and localize in the pleural space. Ascites draining to mediastinal lymph nodes and blocked passage of lymphatic drainage were also clarified, additionaly. Conclusively, radionuclide peritoneal scintigraphy is an accurate, rapid and easy diagnostic tool in patients with both ascites and pleural effusion. It enables the causes of pleural effusion to be elucidated, as well as providing valuable information required when determining the appropriate therapy.