title: Chyle leak: a rare complication post-hemithyroidectomy. case report and review of literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thyroidectomy is one of the common neck surgeries. Well recognized complications include postoperative bleeding, hypocalcaemia and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. Chyle leak post-thyroidectomy is extremely rare. Most of the reported cases have had a complete central compartment neck dissection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This is a case report of a patient who suffered from chyle leak after a left hemithyroidectomy without a complete central compartment neck dissection. The patient was managed conservatively with low fat diet and observation. A protocol for approaching thyroid patients with chyle leak is proposed based on a comprehensive literature review.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chyle leak post-thyroidectomy for a benign disease is a very rare complication. Nevertheless, head and neck surgeons should consider it in the differential diagnosis of neck swelling post-thyroidectomy.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors: Almoaidbellah
authors: A
authors: Rammal
authors: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: faisalzawawi@gmail.com.
authors: Faisal
authors: F
authors: Zawawi
authors: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors: Rickul
authors: R
authors: Varshney
authors: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors: Michael P
authors: MP
authors: Hier
authors: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors: Richard J
authors: RJ
authors: Payne
authors: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors: Alex M
authors: AM
authors: Mlynarek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002913:Chyle / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D035583:Rare Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D013897:Thoracic Duct / Q000293:injuries*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*
keywords: Benign; Chyle; Dissection; Neck; Thyroidectomy