Lymph or Chyle Leak After Neck Dissection in Patients With Thyroid Carcinoma: Results of a Study on 1724 Patients
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Updated: Nov 15, 2025
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Published on: September 15, 2023
Xi Wang1, Shunlan Wang1, Chunqiao Li1
1Department of Otolaryngology, 369351Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou, China.
Background:
To discuss the prevention and treatment of lymph or chyle leak following neck dissection in patients with thyroid carcinoma.
Methods:
A total of 1724 patients with thyroid carcinoma received neck dissection in the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between November 2009 and October 2014. The incidence and management of leak were analyzed.
Results:
A total of 92 (5.34%) patients developed leak, 28 (1.62%) developed lymph leak, 59 (3.42%) developed chyle leak, and 5 (.29%) developed chylothorax. Medical management to stop postoperative lymph or chyle leak included pressure dressing, reoperation, fasting, or low-fat diet therapy.
Conclusions:
Lymph or chyle leak may occur in thyroid carcinoma patients who underwent neck dissection. Clinicians should alert to leak when there were IV + VI region lymph node metastasis and should become aware of chylothorax after pressure dressing. A careful identification and ligation of lymphatic duct may be an effective way to avoid lymph or chyle leak.
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