chylous pleural effusion

Etiology

• thoracic duct trauma
• tumor (lymphoma)
• tuberculosis
• tuberous sclerosis (lymphangiomyomatosis)
• surgery
  • esophagectomy
  • cardiac surgery
• other conditions
  • Kaposi's sarcoma with mediastinal adenopathy
  • Valsalva maneuver during childbirth
  • esophageal sclerotherapy
  • thromboses
    • superior vena cava
    • innominate vein
    • subclavian vein
• cholesterol effusions
  • tuberculous effusions
  • rheumatoid effusions
  • nephrotic syndrome

Pathology

• true chylous effusions contain chylomicrons
• cholesterol effusions are pseudochylous effusion

Clinical manifestations

• dyspnea 57%

Laboratory

pleural fluid triglycerides > 100 mg/dL

More general terms

• pleural effusion