Idiopathic chylothorax in an adult--a case report and a review of 14 cases in Japan
Yamaguchi, T.; Miyagawa, S.; Kuroda, O.; Ihara, K.; Takao, T.
Nihon Kyobu Geka Gakkai 37(7): 1400-1405
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0369-4739 PMID: 2677167 Document Number: 331698
A 30-year-old female with an idiopathic chylothorax who underwent successful surgical treatment was reported. The patient was referred to our hospital because of massive right pleural effusion found by chance on the X-ray. Thoracocentesis revealed chyle but the etiology was not known by examinations. Conservative treatments such as fasting, intravenous hyper-alimentation and a continuous drainage were performed for 10 weeks without remarkable improvement. A right thoracotomy revealed nothing abnormal except for the oozing of lymph from mediastinal pleura, which was sutured by 3-0 nylon. Postoperative course was uneventful and no recurrent pleural effusion has been recognized for 3 years since then. Adult chylothorax with unknown etiology like this is rare and only 13 cases have been reported in Japan. Such "idiopathic chylothorax" cases, including our case, were reviewed and discussed.