title: [Idiopathic chylothorax: usefulness of aetiologic survey and the follow-up].
abstract: Chylothorax is an uncommon condition. It's characterized by the presence of chyle in the pleura. The most common causes are malignancy and trauma. When an underlying cause is excluded, the chylothorax is called idiopathic. We report a case of a 68 aged woman, admitted for abundant chylothorax. Thoraco-abdominal computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging of the chest and thoracotomy showed no lesion of the lymphatic duct. Fibrothorax has developed after pleurodesis. Stable clinical and radiological condition was noticed during 3 years. We discuss the difficulty in the exclusion of a malignancy and the necessity of the follow up for these patients.
authors.affiliation: Service de pneumologie B, hôpital Ariana, Tunisie.
authors.forename: Hédia
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ghraïri
authors.forename: Sana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cheikh Rouhou
authors.forename: Jamel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ammar
authors.forename: Saoussen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hantous
authors.forename: Sadok
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hammami
authors.forename: Angès
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hamzaoui
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D002916:Chylothorax / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D018700:Pleurodesis; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed