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- Title
Chylothorax as a complication of pulmonary tuberculosis in children.
- Authors
Grobbelaar, Marie; Andronikou, Savvas; Goussard, Pierre; Theron, Salomine; Mapukata, Ayanda; George, Reena
- Abstract
Chylothorax is a rare clinical entity characterized by a milky white aspirate with increased triglyceride levels. The commonest aetiology is malignancy and trauma. Pulmonary tuberculosis is an extremely rare cause of chylothorax. Two children with chylothorax and pulmonary tuberculosis are described. One child had bilateral and the other unilateral chylous effusions. Extensive mediastinal and hilar lymphadenopathy was demonstrated. Diseased lymph nodes may infiltrate other intrathoracic structures such as the thoracic duct, and they can also obstruct the cisterna chyli and thoracic duct. A possible explanation for the development of a chylothorax in our patients is obstruction of the thoracic duct by tuberculous lymphadenopathy with subsequent increase in pressure in the surrounding lymphatic system and leaking of chyle into the pleural space.
- Subjects
CHYLOTHORAX; PLEURAL effusions; TUBERCULOSIS in children; BACTERIAL diseases in children; MYCOBACTERIAL diseases; TUBERCULOSIS patients; JUVENILE diseases; PEDIATRIC radiology
- Publication
Pediatric Radiology, 2008, Vol 38, Issue 2, p224
- ISSN
0301-0449
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s00247-007-0634-7