Cervicothoracic Injury with Retropharyngeal Chyle Leak-Diagnostic Dilemma and Management: Case Report

We report a 55-year-old woman with bull gore trauma to the lower neck who developed dysphagia and airway compromise due to a retropharyngeal chyle collection. Imaging revealed a prevertebral fluid collection. Surgical drainage, which confirmed chyle, followed by thoracic duct ligation through video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, was required due to a persistent high-output leak.

Thoracic duct injury at the cervicothoracic junction is an uncommon but serious complication of trauma. High suspicion, timely diagnosis, and surgical intervention ensure favorable outcomes especially in cases with isolated retropharyngeal collection without chylothorax.