Non-Traumatic Chylothorax

Abstract

Chylothorax is a rare cause of pleural effusion seen in approximately 2% of pleural effusions in adults and is associated with a 10% morbidity and mortality rate. Non-traumatic chylothorax in the adult is highly suggestive of malignancy, mainly lymphoma and metastatic carcinoma. Others etiologies include collagen vascular diseases and liver cirrhosis. Aggressive and early evaluation of pleural effusions is of the outmost importance, establishing the cause is essential in non-traumatic chylothorax. Pleural fluid and Radiologic studies including CT of the mediastinum and abdomen are recommended. We present a cases series and a review of non-traumatic chylothorax.