Child abuse as a cause of traumatic chylothorax

Chylothorax is an uncommon condition that may be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The authors report a case of traumatic chylothorax attributed to child abuse and describe our management with tube thoracostomy and nutritional support with medium-chain triglycerides. Child abuse should be suspected in any case of chylothorax when no other etiology is evident and particularly when other signs of abuse are present.