CHYLOMEDIASTINUM AFTER MEDIASTINOSCOPY - A CASE-REPORT

A mediastinal chylous effusion occurred in a young woman after a media stinoscopy. This effusion healed rapidly with medical treatment. An un derstanding of the anatomy of these intrathoracic/lymphatic channels e xplains that intra-thoracic chylous effusions may occur in case of inc ontinence of the lymphatic vessels which connect the tracheo-bronchial nodes to the thoracic duct in the mediastinum. This is very important following the surgical excision of a node because incontinent lymphat ic vessels are directly sectioned. When the lymph nodes are biopsied i n an enclosed cavity such as the mediastinum, the quantity of lymphoid tissue acts as an obstacle to reflux of the lymph which is thus less significant and more easily controlled.