SPONTANEOUS CHYLOTHORAX IN A PATIENT WITH A CUTANEOUS LYMPHANGIOMA

A 66-year-old man with a cutaneous lymphangioma spontaneously develope d chylothorax responsible for chest pain, exertional dyspnea, and a co ugh. Thoracentesis recovered a chylous culture-negative fluid that con tained no tumor cells. A pleural biopsy specimen obtained under thoras copic guidance failed to reveal any specific lesions or evidence of tu mor. Computed tomography scans of the chest and abdomen, lymphography, and a three-year follow-up failed to identify the causative lesion. T alc poudrage through a thorascopic cannula was effective in drying up the effusion.