Chylothorax; a description of four cases and a brief review

Chylothorax probably accounts for less than 1%of pleural effusions and early recognition of the condition is imperative to prevent sequelae and there is usually a need for extensive subsequent investigations to arrive at the final diagnosis. We report four cases of this uncommon condition with different aetiologies, namely chronic pleural tuberculosis, mediastinal sarcoidosis or thoracic surgery, mediastinal lymphoma and gastric adenocarcinoma, that presented during a period of two years to the specialized respiratory medicine unit, Teaching Hospital Kandy, Sri Lanka. We also briefly review the pathophysiology, aetiology, diagnosis and management of chylothorax.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/jccp.v43i1-2.6818

Journal of the Ceylon College of Physicians,2012, 43, 49-53