Infect Chemother.  2014 Mar;46(1):50-53. 10.3947/ic.2014.46.1.50.

Simultaneous Chylothorax and Chylous Ascites Due to Tuberculosis

• Kim KJ
• Park DW
• Choi WS

• KMID: 2170461
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3947/ic.2014.46.1.50

Abstract

Chylothorax or chylous ascites is rare manifestation of tuberculosis. We report a case of simultaneous chylothorax and chylous ascites due to tuberculosis. A 17-year-old girl was admitted with fever, abdominal distention and dyspnea. Chest and abdominal computed tomography revealed bilateral pleural effusion, multifocal nodular consolidation on both lung fields and copious ascites and multiple necrotic lymphadenopathy in the abdominal cavity. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was isolated from sputum and pleural fluid. The patient was treated with anti-tuberculosis medication. Pleural effusion and ascites improved with the medication.

Keyword

Chylothorax; Chylous ascites; Tuberculosis

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Cavity
Adolescent
Ascites
Chylothorax*
Chylous Ascites*
Dyspnea
Female
Fever
Humans
Lung
Lymphatic Diseases
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Pleural Effusion
Sputum
Thorax
Tuberculosis*

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan images. (A) Chest CT scan showed left side dominant pleural effusion and multifocal mediastinal lymph node enlargement. (B) Abdominal CT scan showed large amount of ascites with diffuse peritoneal thickening and multiple necrotic lymphadenopathy in the abdominal cavity suggesting tuberculous peritonitis with lymphadenopathy.

• 

  Figure 2 Appearance of pleural fluid and ascites. (A) Pleural fluid drained by diagnostic thoracentesis, milk-like appearance. (B) Ascties drained by diagnostic paracentesis, whitish or opalescent looking rich in triglyceride.

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