Abstract
A 32-year old woman consulted a local doctor because of a cough. An abnormal shadow was found on chest x-ray, and the patient was referred to our department. Chest CT showed an abnormal mass in the posterior mediastinum. Therefore, we performed a thoracotomy. Milky fluid (chyle) filled the resected tumor which was diagnosed as a thoracic duct cyst. The superior and inferior pedicles of the thoracic duct cyst were ligated and the operation was finished. The postoperative course was uneventful and 18 months later, the patient was doing well. Thoracic duct cyst of the mediastinum is a very rare disease, and only 28 operative cases have been reported.
