Acute Crit Care.  2018 May;33(2):105-109. 10.4266/acc.2016.00164.

Chemical Pleurodesis Using Viscum album Extract in Gorham Disease Complicated with Chylothorax

• Cho SJ
• Kim SW

• KMID: 2436319
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2016.00164

Abstract

Gorham disease, also known as massive osteolysis, is characterized by unregulated proliferation of lymphatic or vascular capillaries within bone, resulting in destruction and replacement with angiomatous tissue. This disease can lead to chylothorax that can be lethal. Viscum album extract from European mistletoe is a complementary anti-cancer drug which is commonly prescribed in many European countries and is considered as a new generation of chemical agent for pleurodesis. A 14-year-old girl presented with dyspnea and chest pain. She was diagnosed as Gorham disease who was definitively treated with V. album extract for chylothorax that was refractory to standard conservative management.

Keyword

chylothorax; osteolysis, essential; pleurodesis

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Capillaries
Chest Pain
Chylothorax*
Dyspnea
Female
Humans
Osteolysis, Essential*
Pleurodesis*
Viscum album*
Viscum*

Figure

• 

  Figure 1. A chest X-ray revealing a massive pleural effusion in the right thoracic cavity (A). White and black arrows indicate multifocal osteolytic lesions and fractures in the clavicle, scapula, ankle, hip, and sternum in computed tomography (B) and bone scans (C).

• 

  Figure 2. (A) A chest X-ray showing localized effusions in the right pleural cavity just before discharge. (B) There was no aggravating chylothorax in a follow-up chest X-ray 9 months after discharge.

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