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Updated: Apr 9, 2026

A Murine Tail Lymphedema Model
Published on: February 10, 2021
Lymphatic Interventions for Treatment of Chylothorax
H H Schild1, C P Naehle1, K E Wilhelm1
1Department of Radiology, University Hospital, Bonn, Germany.
Purpose:
To determine effectiveness of lymphatic interventional procedures for treatment of chylothorax.
Material And Methods:
Analysis of interventions performed from 2001 to 2014.
Results:
In 21 patients with therapy resistant chylothorax a lymphatic radiological intervention was attempted, which could be performed in 19 cases: 17 thoracic duct embolizations (15 transabdominal, one transzervical and one retrograde transvenous procedure), 2 percutaneous destructions of lymphatic vessels, one CT-guided injection of ethanol next to a duplicated thoracic duct. Fourteen of seventeen (82.3 %) of the technically successful embolizations lead to clinical cure. This encluded three patients with prior unsuccessful surgical thoracic duct ligation. Also the injection of ethanol was clinically effective. Complications were a bile peritonitis requiring operation, and one clinical deterioration of unknown cause.
Conclusion:
Interventional lymphatic procedures allow for effective treatment in many cases of chylothorax, and should be considered early during treatment.
Key Points:
• Thoracic duct embolization is an effective treatment method for chylothorax. • If embolization is impossible, percutaneous lymphatic destruction or injection of sclerosants/tissue adhesive next to the thoracic duct may be tried.
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