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Etiology of chylothorax in 203 patients

Clinton H Doerr1, Mark S Allen, Francis C Nichols

  • 1Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minn 55905, USA.

Mayo Clinic Proceedings
|July 13, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Surgery or trauma is the leading cause of chylothorax, differing from prior research. This study analyzed 203 patients, finding nearly 50% of cases stemmed from surgical or traumatic origins.

Area of Science:

  • Medical research
  • Pulmonology
  • Thoracic surgery

Background:

  • Chylothorax, the accumulation of lymphatic fluid in the pleural space, has diverse etiologies.
  • Previous studies often cited medical conditions like lymphoma as primary causes.
  • Understanding the current etiological landscape is crucial for clinical management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the causes of chylothorax at a tertiary referral center.
  • To compare current etiological findings with historical data.
  • To identify trends in chylothorax causes over a 21-year period.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of medical records for patients diagnosed with chylothorax.
  • Data collected from January 1, 1980, to December 31, 2000, at the Mayo Clinic.
  • Analysis focused on identifying the underlying cause for each case.

Main Results:

  • 203 patients with chylothorax were identified.
  • Surgery or trauma accounted for 49.8% of cases, the most frequent cause.
  • Key causes included esophagectomy, congenital heart disease surgery, lymphoma, and lymphatic disorders.

Conclusions:

  • Surgery or trauma has emerged as the predominant cause of chylothorax.
  • Malignancies like lymphoma were less common causes than previously reported.
  • The high volume of cardiothoracic procedures at the center may influence these findings.
Abstract

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