Chylous cysts of the mediastinum: report of a case and review of the literature.
Life-threatening spontaneous chylothorax is a rare clinical entity. Correct diagnosis and understanding of its pathogenesis is paramount in order to apply definite surgical treatment. A case of a ruptured multilocular chylocyst around the thoracic duct and cysterna chyli is presented. Multiple bilateral aspirations, right thoracostomy, right thoracotomy, a frustrated attempt to ligate the thoracic duct, and an attempt to insert a pleuroperitoneal shunt, were all unsuccessful. Definite surgery accomplished rehabilitation of the patient after a 5 1/2 month hospitalization. Revision of the literature and vindicative historical facts are presented.
Rodríguez-Pérez
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Laboratory Service, VA Medical Center, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Ramírez de Arellano
G A
GA
D000328:Adult; D002913:Chyle; D002916:Chylothorax / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008476:Mediastinal Cyst / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012008:Recurrence; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous