[Chylomediastinum after mediastinoscopy. Apropos of a case]

A mediastinal chylous effusion occurred in a young woman after a mediastinoscopy. This effusion healed rapidly with medical treatment. An understanding of the anatomy of these intra-thoracic/lymphatic channels explains that intra-thoracic chylous effusions may occur in case of incontinence of the lymphatic vessels which connect the tracheo-bronchial nodes to the thoracic duct in the mediastinum. This is very important following the surgical excision of a node because incontinent lymphatic vessels are directly sectioned. When the lymph nodes are biopsied in an enclosed cavity such as the mediastinum, the quantity of lymphoid tissue acts as an obstacle to reflux of the lymph which is thus less significant and more easily controlled.