[Case of idiopathic chylothorax successfully treated with surgical ligation of thoracic ducts]

A 72-year-old woman visited a clinic for anorexia and general fatigue but no particular abnormality was detected by routine examination at that time. Thereafter, she experienced gradually increasing dyspnea and chest X ray showed right pleural effusion. Idiopathic chylothorax was diagnosed due to the milky effusion with a high concentration of triglyceride (2618 mg/dl) and no apparent causative disease. Irrespective of treatments including dietary restriction, drainage of the pleural space, and somatostatin injections, her effusion did not reduce. The leakage of lymph fluid from the right posterior mediastinum was identified by lymphatic scintigraphy and she was successfully treated with surgical ligation of the thoracic ducts.