Rupture of the Thoracic Duct as a Result of Injury with Subsequent Development of Bilateral Chylothorax

Thomas Bohrer, Jens Christian Paul, Konrad Neukam, Oscar Hernandez, Christian O. Ritter, Rudolf Hagen

Clinic and Policlinic for ENT-Diseases, Wuerzburg University, Wuerzburg, Germany.
Hospiten Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
Radiology Institute, Wuerzburg University, Wuerzburg, Germany.
The Center of Operative Medicine, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Wuerzburg University, Wuerzburg, Germany.

DOI: 10.4236/ojts.2012.24024                

Abstract

We present a unique case of a 49-year-old woman presenting with a bilateral chylothorax sustained after minor injury. This condition developed secondarily to minor neck injury which resulted in left side cervical swelling. First treatment was conservative. Surgical intervention was nevertheless necessary to remove a cervical cyst contiguous with the thoracic duct.

Keywords

Chylothorax; Rupture of Thoracic Duct

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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