Bilateral chylothoraces without chyle leakage after left-sided neck dissection for thyroid cancer: report of two cases.
Bilateral chylothorax is a rare complication of neck dissection, but it is potentially serious and sometimes life threatening. Because of the rarity of chylothorax, surgeons are unfamiliar with its early signs, which allow a prompt diagnosis and effective management. Most cases reported in the literature were associated with a concurrent external chyle leakage, which occurred either during or after surgery. We report two cases of bilateral chylothoraces without concurrent external chyle leakage, which occurred after left-sided neck dissections for thyroid cancer. We treated both patients successfully with conservative management.
Bae
Ja Seong
JS
Department of Surgery, the Catholic University of Korea, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, 505 Banpo-Dong, Seocho-gu, 137-701 Seoul, South Korea.
Song
Byung Joo
BJ
Kim
Mi Ra
MR
Park
Woo Chan
WC
Kim
Jeong Soo
JS
Jung
Sang Seol
SS
D002913:Chyle; D002916:Chylothorax / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000628:therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*