title: Chylothorax as a result of chronic lymphocytic leukemia: case report and review of the literature.
abstract: Chylothorax occurs when a disruption in the thoracic duct allows chyle to escape into the pleural space. The most commonly reported cause is malignancy, especially lymphoma. However, chylothorax caused by chronic lymphocytic leukemia is rarely reported in the literature. We describe a patient who developed chylothorax secondary to chronic lymphocytic leukemia. In addition, the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of chylothorax are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy, Pulmonary, and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232-2650, USA. todd.rice@vanderbilt.edu
authors.forename: Todd W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Rice
authors.forename: Aaron P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Milstone
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002916:Chylothorax / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male