2011 Volume 25 Issue 7 Pages 773-775
We report a case of chylothorax caused by thoracic duct cyst rupture. A 59-year-old woman was referred to our hospital. She had experienced difficulty in breathing for two days. Chest radiograph film and CT showed massive right pleural effusion with complete collapse of the right lung and deviation of the mediastinum to the left. White-yellowish effusion flowed out after chest drainage. The effusion contained high levels of triglycerides and was diagnosed as chylothorax. We performed thoracotomy because the chylothorax persisted even with treatment of fat-free alimentation. On thoracotomy, the thoracic duct extended like a cyst and chile was discharged on compression of the cyst. Ligation of the cyst and connected lymph ducts was performed. There has been no recurrence of the chylothorax since the operation. Only 32 cases of thoracic duct cyst of the mediastinum have been reported, but we should consider the possibility of chylothorax in cases of pleural effusion.
