Transudative chylothorax is an uncommon type of chylous pleural effusion, typically secondary to chyle leak and a coexisting disorder such as heart failure or liver cirrhosis. Sclerosing mesenteritis is a rare inflammatory disease of the small bowel mesentery, and has once previously been reported as a cause of chylothorax. We present the case of an 81-year-old man with a right-side transudative chylothorax associated with congestive heart failure and sclerosing mesenteritis. We discuss potential mechanisms.
Diaz-GuzmanE, CulverDA, StollerJK. Transudative chylothorax: report of two cases and review of the literature. Lung, 2005; 183(3):169–175.
5.
FujinoS, KohnoN, InoueY, FujiokaS, HamadaH, AbeM, et al. [A case of chylothorax caused by mesenteric panniculitis]. Nippon Ronen Igakkai Zasshi, 1995; 32(7):516–519. Article in Japanese.
6.
AkramS, PardiDS, SchaffnerJA, SmyrkTC. Sclerosing mesenteritis: clinical features, treatment, and outcome in ninety-two patients. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol, 2007; 5(5):589–596.
7.
RomeroS, MartinC, HernandezL, VerduJ, TrigoC, Perez-MateoM, AlemanyL. Chylothorax in cirrhosis of the liver: analysis of its frequency and clinical characteristics. Chest, 1998; 114(1):154–159.
PorcelJM, MadroñeroAB, PardinaM, VivesM, EsquerdaA, LightRW. Analysis of pleural effusions in acute pulmonary embolism: radiological and pleural fluid data from 230 patients. Respirology, 2007; 12(2):234–239.
10.
NoppenM, De WaeleM, LiR, GuchtKV, D'HaeseJ, GerloE, VinckenW. Volume and cellular content of normal pleural fluid in humans examined by pleural lavage. Am J Respir Crit Care Med, 2000; 162(3 Pt 1):1023–1026.
