ISOLATED PRIMARY CHYLOPERICARDIUM

Isolated primary chylopericardum is known to be a rare clinical entity . A 17-year-old girl was diagnosed as isolated primary chylopericardiu m. She was unresponsive to conservative treatment with pericardial tub e drainage and medium chain triglyceride diet. At 2 weeks after the co nservative treatment, ligation and resection of the thoracic duct with establishment of a pericardial window through a left thoracotomy was performed. At 6 months, follow-up showed no accumulation of the perica rdial fluid. This case also supports that ligation and resection of th e thoracic duct with establishment of a pericardial window is the trea tment of choice in isolated primary chylopericardium. (C) 1997 Elsevie r Science B.V.