Chylopericardium and Plastic Bronchitis From Thoracic Duct Dysfunction: A Multimodality Approach

Chylopericardium is a rare lymphatic disorder and an uncommon cause of large pericardial effusion, often associated with diagnostic uncertainty and potential for recurrent, noncurative interventions when the underlying thoracic duct dysfunction is not recognized.

A 17-year-old woman with prior complex thoracic interventions presented with obstructive shock and large pericardial effusion. Transthoracic echocardiography demonstrated swinging heart with tamponade physiology, and emergent pericardiocentesis yielded chylous fluid confirming chylopericardium. Recurrent hemodynamic compromise required surgical pericardial window. Progressive respiratory failure prompted flexible bronchoscopy, revealing bronchial chylous casts consistent with plastic bronchitis. Dynamic contrast lymphangiography identified bilateral apical lymphatic ectasia without a discrete leak. Percutaneous thoracic duct embolization achieved complete clinical resolution.

This case underscores thoracic duct dysfunction as a unifying mechanism and supports early lymphatic evaluation and thoracic duct embolization as definitive therapy in complex chylous disease.