[Chylothorax - case report]. / Quilotórax: A propósito de um caso clínico.

ABSTRACT

Chylothorax is the occurrence of lymph in the pleura due to damage or obstruction of the thoracic duct. High content of triglycerides and the presence of chylomicrons make the diagnosis of chylothorax. Its aetiology can be divided in traumatic and non-traumatic. Traumatic rupture occurs after accidents or surgery. Within non-traumatic aetiology, lymphoma is the most common and in the presence of a chylothorax of unknown origin this should be the first suspicion, being non-Hodgkin type the most frequent. The authors present a case report of a patient with chylothorax due to non-Hodgkin lymphoma, discuss the particularities of chylothorax as well as the investigation and its treatment options.