Chylothorax in chronic lymphocytic leukemia patient.
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is rarely complicated by chylothorax: we present a 93-year-old woman with CLL who developed recurrent pleural effusions that were ultimately found to be chylous in nature. Despite eight repeated thoracenteses, she continued to experience re-accumulation of fluid, and therefore, video-assisted thoracotomy with mass ligation of the thoracic duct region plus pleurodesis was performed to resolve the chylothorax. Despite her age and underlying disease, she did well during follow-up. The etiology and management of chylothorax are also reviewed.
Doerr
Clinton H
CH
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA. doerr.clinton@mayo.edu
Staats
Bruce A
BA
Markovic
Svetomir N
SN
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D002916:Chylothorax / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005947:Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000032:analysis; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000150:complications*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008026:Ligation; D019152:Paracentesis; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D018700:Pleurodesis; D013897:Thoracic Duct / Q000601:surgery; D013906:Thoracoscopy
D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D005947:Glucose