Bilateral chylothorax following neck dissection.

Abstract

Bilateral chylothorax, as a complication of neck dissection, is extremely rare, and was first described in 1907. Ten cases are reported in the literature. This presentation illustrates an additional case of bilateral chylothorax occurring after neck dissection. Anatomic and physiologic considerations are presented and possible mechanisms of pathogenesis are discussed. Chylothorax has two major complications: respiratory and metabolic. The modern concepts of treatment are summarized. After neck dissection, the clinician should suspect chylothorax if the patient had respiratory embarrassment and an abnormal chest x-ray postoperatively.