| CASE REPORT |
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| Year : 2017 | Volume
: 54
| Issue : 4 | Page : 691-694 |
Chylothorax in children with cancer: A milky predicament
Sidharth Totadri1, Amita Trehan1, Anish Bhattacharya2, Deepak Bansal1, Savita Verma Attri3, Radhika Srinivasan4
1 Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
2 Department of Nuclear Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
3 Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Biochemistry, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
4 Department of Cytology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Amita Trehan
Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/ijc.IJC_499_17
Chylothorax is an uncommon complication in children. Although surgery and trauma are the most common causes encountered, hematological as well as solid malignancies can present with chylothorax. This study aimed to describe the presentation and management of malignant chylothorax in children. This is a case series from a pediatric hematology-oncology unit. Chylothorax was diagnosed by demonstrating high triglyceride content in the pleural fluid and a low cholesterol concentration in relation to the serum cholesterol. Cytology for malignant cells and investigations for tuberculosis were performed in all patients. Initial management included placement of an intercostal tube and administration of a fat-free diet with the addition of medium-chain triglycerides. Appropriate treatment of the underlying malignancy was initiated simultaneously. Three children with diagnoses of Stage IV neuroblastoma, lymphoblastic lymphoma, and Hodgkin lymphoma developed chylothorax. Malignant cytology was positive in the patient with T-NHL. All patients were found to have associated hypoproteinemia and hypoalbuminemia. The chylothorax resolved with conservative measures in two patients. It remained intractable in the child with T-NHL, in whom the lymphoma was refractory to chemotherapy. Chylothorax is a rare but challenging complication that can accompany childhood malignancies. Surgical interventions, radiotherapy, and pleurodesis are alternatives if the chylothorax is refractory to medical management.
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