Isolated chylopericardium following radical esophagectomy: report of a case

Chylopericardium after intrathoracic surgery is a rare clinical occurrence. To our knowledge, the incidence of isolated chylopericardium following esophagectomy has never previously been reported. We herein present a case of isolated chylopericardium following radical esophagectomy involving a right thoracotomy and a partial sternotomy. A 57-year-old man underwent radical esophagectomy with a three-field lymph node dissection for advanced cancer in the upper thoracic esophagus. After postoperative irradiation with adjuvant chemotherapy, chylopericardium developed. Pericardiocentesis was thus performed twice and resulted in a successful outcome.