Bilateral Chylothorax Secondary to Retrosternal Goitre: a Case Report and Review of the Literature
  • Ruth Patricia Cusack
    Department of Respiratory Medicine, Mercy University Hospital, Cork
  • Jane McCarthy
    Department of Gastroenterology, Mercy University Hospital, Cork
  • Terence Markham O'Connor
    Department of Respiratory Medicine, Mercy University Hospital, Cork

Keywords

Pleural effusion, chylothorax, goitre

Abstract

Chylothorax is characterized by an accumulation of lymphatic fluid in the pleural cavity due to damage to the thoracic duct. The aetiology can be traumatic or non-traumatic. Goitre is a rare cause of chylothorax with only eight cases previously described in the literature including only one case causing a bilateral chylothorax. This report describes a patient with bilateral chylothorax secondary to substernal goitre, which was successfully treated, and discusses this very rare case in light of the available literature.

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References

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  • Simmgen M, Newlands ES, Southcott BM, Vigushin DM. Bilateral chylothorax due to retrosternal goiter in a patient with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Med Oncol 2001;18:153–157.

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    Published: 2016-04-12
    Issue: Vol. 3 No. 3 (view)

    How to cite:
    1.
    Cusack RP, McCarthy J, O’Connor TM. Bilateral Chylothorax Secondary to Retrosternal Goitre: a Case Report and Review of the Literature. EJCRIM 2016;3 doi:10.12890/2016_000388.