Dysplasia of the lymphatics with lymphoedema, generalized lymphangiectasis, chylothorax and "pseudo-storage-disease"

A patient showing an unusual association of various abnormalities of the lymphatic vascular system is reported. These abnormalities became first evident in early childhood and consisted of lymphoedema of the left leg, lymphangiectasis in various organs and occlusion of the thoracic duct at its entrance into the venous angle. Chylous effusions and subcutaneous chyloedema appeared in adolescence. Diagnostic biopsies of spleen, liver and bone-marrow revealed the presence of multiple foamcells, suggesting the diagnoses of lipid storage disease. The patient died from severe honeycomb-lungs at the age of 20. This case cannot be attributed to one of the wellknown disease entities of the lymphatic system. The "pseudo"-storage disease is regarded as secondary to the backflow of chylus into the tissues.