Zur Problematik des idiopathischen Chylothorax

Conservative management of a chylothorax in a 57-year-old man was unsuccessful (25 l chylous fluid removed over three weeks). But chylous flow ceased immediately after thoracotomy with ligation and resection of the thoracic duct. The aetiology of the chylothorax remained obscure despite extensive preoperative diagnostic measures and histological examination of the thoracic duct.