[Primary intestinal lymphangiectasis. Apropos of a clinical case]

A case of primary intestinal lymphangiectasia in a 40-year old patient is described. The diagnosis was rendered more difficult by the association of this disease, breast cancer and the mistaken diagnosis of neoplastic cells in the pleural fluid. The clinical situation, laboratory and radiological findings, and biopsy results are compared with findings reported in the literature. A rapid, long-term improvement was obtained by the administration of a hypolipidic diet containing medium chain length fats.