Chylous leakage and chylothorax following central lymph node dissection for thyroid cancer: a case report and literature review
10.3760/cma.j.cn101721-20250120-00036
- VernacularTitle:甲状腺癌中央区淋巴结清扫术后颈部乳糜漏及乳糜胸1例并文献复习
- Author:
Dongyu CUI
1
;
Bolin ZHANG
1
;
Jingjing ZHANG
1
;
Zhenyu WU
1
;
Jie ZHANG
1
;
Hengzhe JIA
1
;
Yanfeng TIAN
1
Author Information
1. 河北医科大学第一医院乳腺甲状腺诊疗中心，石家庄 050031
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Chylothorax;
Chylous leakage;
Thyroid cancer;
Central lymph node dissection
- From:
Clinical Medicine of China
2025;41(5):385-388
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Cervical chylous leakage is rare after central lymph node dissection for thyroid cancer, and the coexistence of chylothorax is even more uncommon. This article reports a case of a 39-year-old female patient who underwent total thyroidectomy and left central lymph node dissection for papillary thyroid carcinoma complicated by follicular adenoma. On the second postoperative day, the patient developed white, milky drainage from the neck, suggesting chylous leakage, and experienced mild chest tightness, cough, and low-grade fever. Chest CT revealed bilateral pleural effusion, with the left side being more severe. On the third day, ultrasound-guided left-sided pleural puncture and drainage were performed and hydrothorax triglycerides and total cholesterol levels were measured, chylothorax were diagnosed as a result.After conservative treatment including a low-fat diet, fasting, nutritional support, neck pressure dressing and negative pressure suctionand closed chest drainage, the patient's condition improved rapidly. The patient was discharged on the 8th postoperative day with full recovery. No recurrence has been observed during follow-up to date.
