title: Lymphoscintigraphy with single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography is useful for determining the site of chyle leakage after esophagectomy.
abstract: We describe the case of chylothorax after esophagectomy for esophageal carcinoma. Lymphoscintigraphy with Tc-99m-human serum albumin-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid showed an abnormal radioisotope accumulation on the left side of the thoracic duct. Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) combined with computed tomography (CT) revealed a hot spot directly on the site at, which the thoracic duct was ligated during surgery, which was the suggested site of chyle leakage. We emphasize that lymphoscintigraphy with SPECT/CT is very useful tool for accurately identifying the site of the chyle leakage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Kohei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kotani
authors.forename: Joji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kawabe
authors.forename: Shigeaki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Higashiyama
authors.forename: Susumu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shiomi
keywords: Chylothorax; esophagectomy; lymphoscintigraphy; single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography
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