• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.289-291
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• 2004

Malignant melanoma develops from melanocytes and frequently metastases to other organs. Common metastatic sites are other skin, lymph nodes, lung, liver, brain and bone in decreasing order of frequency. Malignant pleural effusion is less frequent manifestation of thoracic metastasis. We experienced a 57-year-old man with pleural effusion who received radical resection with local flap on left foot due to acral lentiginous melanoma 3 years ago. He had progressive chest pain and left massive pleural effusion. The pleural cytology and biopsy showed malignant melanoma. After closed thoracostomy and talc pleurodesis, he refused further immunotherapy and chemotherapy and discharged.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.265-269
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• 2017

Chylothorax or chylous ascites are rare manifestations of liver cirrhosis. We report a rare case of simultaneous chylothorax and chylous ascites in a patient with hepatitis B virus-related liver cirrhosis. A 76-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with a pleural effusion on her right side. She had no history of recent medical procedures, trauma or tumor. There was no evidence of mass or thoracic duct obstruction in a computed tomography scan. Pleural fluid and ascites were confirmed as chylothorax and chylous ascites by chemistry analysis. Despite thorough conservative care, there was no improvement. Pleurodesis was planned, but hepatic encephalopathy developed suddenly and she did not recover.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.594-600
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• 2019

With improving survival of children with complex congenital heart disease (CCHD), postoperative complications, like protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) are increasingly encountered. A 3-year-old girl with surgically corrected CCHD (ventricular inversion/L-transposition of the great arteries, ventricular septal defect, pulmonary atresia, postdouble switch procedure [Rastelli and Glenn]) developed chylothoraces. She was treated with pleurodesis, thoracic duct ligation and subsequently developed chylous ascites and PLE (serum albumin ${\leq}0.9g/dL$) and was malnourished, despite nutritional rehabilitation. Lymphangioscintigraphy/single-photon emission computed tomography showed lymphatic obstruction at the cisterna chyli level. A segmental chyle leak and chylous lymphangiectasia were confirmed by gastrointestinal endoscopy, magnetic resonance (MR) enterography, and MR lymphangiography. Selective glue embolization of leaking intestinal lymphatic trunks led to prompt reversal of PLE. Serum albumin level and weight gain markedly improved and have been maintained for over 3 years. Selective interventional embolization reversed this devastating lymphatic complication of surgically corrected CCHD.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.549-553
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• 2022

Chylothorax is a rare disease and massive lymph fluid loss can cause life-threatening condition such as severe malnutrition, weight loss, and impaired immune system. If untreated, mortality rate of chylothorax can be up to 50%. This is a case report of a 3-year-old child with iatrogenic chylothorax. Despite conservative treatment and procedures, like perm catheter insertion, the patient failed to improve the respiratory symptoms over 3 months of period. As an alternative to surgical option, such as pleurodesis and thoracic duct ligation which has high complication rate, the patient underwent lymphovenous anastomosis (LVA) and lymph node to vein anastomosis (LNVA). Follow-up at fourth month showed clear lungs without breathing difficulty despite perm catheter removal. This is the first report to show the effectiveness of LVA and LNVA against iatrogenic chylothorax.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.377-380
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• 2004

We report a rare case of idiopathic chylothorax and chyluria. A 31 year-old woman was referred to our hospital with a right-sided pleural effusion. Cream-colored pleural fluid and urine were confirmed as chylothorax and chyluria, respectively, by a lipoprotein electrophoresis. Even though she had previously underwent surgery for pelvic fibrosarcoma and experienced its recurrence, there has been no change of mass size and no evidence of thoracic duct or urinary tract obstruction as of the moment. Hence, idiopathic chylothorax and chyluira was diagnosed. Because she responded poorly to conservative treatment, thoracic duct ligation and pleurodesis were performend ; wherease chyluria was resolved spontaneously.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.816-819
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• 2010

We report one case of Horner's syndrome, a rare complication of closed thoracostomy. A 17 year-old girl with a second attack of left side primary spontaneous pneumothorax visited an emergency room. After closed tube thoracostomy, she was admitted to a general ward for elective video-assisted thoracosopic bullectomy, which was delayed due to incidental right side acute otitis media. On the third day of admission, she presented with pain and discomfort in the left eye. Further examination revealed left side ptosis and miosis and led to a diagnosis of Homer's syndrome. The chest tube was pulled back 2 to 3 cm for repositioning. After two days she underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic bullectomy and mechanical pleurodesis and was discharged at postoperative day 7. Symptoms and signs of Homer's syndrome gradually resolved, and she had fully recovered at the 2 month postoperative outpatient follow-up.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.451-458
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• 1991

We have observed 101 cases of recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax from Sep. 1979 to Dec. 1989 at the Department of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery, College of Medicine, Inje University, Pusan Paik Hospital and the result obtained as follows. 1] Age range of patients was the first decade to seventh decade. Males outnumbered females by 6.7: l. One or two episodes of recurrent attack were noted in majority cases. 2] In distribution of the lesion sites, right side was 55 cases[55.4%], left 42 cases[41.9%], and bilateral 4 cases[3.0%]. 3] In clinical manifestations, abrupt onset of dyspnea was 78 cases[77.2%], chest pain 48 cases[47.5%], cough 9 cases[8.9%] and chest discomfort 8 cases[7.9%]. 4] Of 101 cases, 48 cases were associated with pulmonary tuberculosis and other cases were associated with subpleural bullae and blebs[26 cases], emphysema[7 cases], bronchiectasis[2 cases], lung cancer[1 case], and silicosis[1 case], 5] In 88 cases[87.2%] of patients, the magnitude of collapse was above 50% in plain chest film. 6] The interval of recurrence after last attack was frequently within 1 year. 7] In the management, closed thoracostomy with underwater-sealed drainage was applied in first recurrent 53 cases but 2nd recurrence was developed in 16 cases. In 52 cases, surgical management was applied. The pleurodesis with chemical agent[tetracycline] via chest tube was applied in 2 cases. Among 51 cases subjected to the open thoracotomy, pleural abrasion was performed in 3 cases, excision of bullae & blebs in 12 cases, wedge resection in 28 cases, lobectomy in 6 cases and wedge resection combined with lobectomy in 2 cases. In one case subjected to the median sternotomy, wedge resection on both lung apex was performed. 8] Postoperative complications were developed in 8 cases but not serious.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.360-364
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• 1996

Chylothorax is denned by extravasation of the milky fluid to pleural cavity from the thoracic duct or it's main branches due to operative trauma, congenital lesions, diagnostic procedures, tumor, etc. Another rare cause is diffuse pulmonary Iymphangiomatosis which is uncommon and not well charact rized. We experienced a case of the bilateral chylothorax caused by the diffuse pulmonary Iymphangiomatosis. The patient was at years old girl with symptoms of coughing and febrile sensation, and the chest radiographs showed bilateral pleural effusion and interstitial infiltrates. The laboratory data of the pleural effusion was identified as chile. Uncontrollable with closed tube thoracostomy, division of tHe thoracic duct and biopsy were decided. Biopsy showed anastomosing endothelial lined spaces along the pulmonary Iymphatic routes especially in pleural and interlobar septum, and smooth muscle at the proliferative interstitium of the Iymphatic duct was observed. Postoperatively, chylothorax was controlled with several trial of chemical pleurodesis. Af'leer discharge from the hospital, she was well for ten months follow up.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.740-746
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• 2001

Background : A 35-year-old woman was admitted to the emergency room with sudden dyspnea that developed one day prior. The initial Chest X-ray showed multiple bullous changes at the right middle and lower lung field and long standing fibrotic tuberculous changes at the right upper lung field. The left lung field was totally collapsed by an fibrotic old tuberculous lesion. In spite of supportive medical care with oxygen therapy after admission, the radiographic lesions were no significant change but the respiratory distress had worsened. The patient suffered respiratory failure and received mechanical ventilatory support. The HRCT showed a localized tension pneumothorax mimicking multiple giant bullae at the right lower lung field. Immediately after a closed thoracostomy with a 32 French chest tube and air drainage, her vital signs and dyspnea were gradually improved. The patient was successfully weaned from mechanical ventilation after 5 days of mechanical ventilatory support. The patient had received talc pleurodesis through a chest tube to prevent the recurrence of the life-threatening localized pneumothorax. The patient was discharged without recurrence of the pneumothorax.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.70 no.5
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• pp.428-432
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• 2011

Pulmonary lymphangiomatosis is a rare disorder involving the entire intrathoracic lymphatic system from the mediastinum to the pleura. Pulmonary lymphangiomatosis mostly occurs in children and young adults without gender predilection. Although it is pathologically benign, it shows a progressive and fatal course with variable initial presentation. We now report a case of pulmonary lymphangiomatosis in a 35-year-old man. He presented with hemoptysis 6 months previously. Chest x-ray and a chest computed tomography scan showed diffuse interstitial thickening with left pleural effusion. Chylothorax was confirmed by thoracentesis. Lymphangiography showed dilated and tortuous lymphatic channels. Surgical lung biopsy revealed proliferation of complex anastomosing lymphatic channels. He was diagnosed with pulmonary lymophangiomatosis. Closed thoracostomy and chemical pleurodesis were done and the dyspnea was reduced.