Blunt Trauma-Induced Chylothorax in Noonan Syndrome: A Rare Clinical Presentation

Chylothorax, the accumulation of lymphatic fluid within the pleural cavity, is rarely caused by blunt trauma. We present the case of a 26-year-old male involved in a high-speed motor vehicle collision who sustained a T8 chance fracture and developed progressive right-sided pleural effusion. The patient was managed conservatively with drainage and dietary modification. His clinical history of congenital cardiac surgery, abnormal facies, and prior pleural effusion raised suspicion for Noonan syndrome, which has been associated with lymphatic maldevelopment and predisposition to chylothorax. This case underscores the importance of including chylothorax in the differential diagnosis of pleural effusion following blunt thoracic trauma, particularly in patients with underlying lymphatic abnormalities, and highlights the effectiveness of conservative management in low-output cases.