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CASE REPORT article

Front. Oncol.
Sec. Head and Neck Cancer
Volume 14 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1489410

Bilateral chylothorax following total thyroidectomy with neck lymph node dissection for thyroid cancer: a case report and literature review

Provisionally accepted
Yunsheng Wang Yunsheng Wang 1Liu Xudong Liu Xudong 1,2Xingyue Wang Xingyue Wang 1*Youxin Tian Youxin Tian 1*Qinjiang Liu Qinjiang Liu 1*Jun Wang Jun Wang 1*Jincai Xue Jincai Xue 1*
  • 1 Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Gansu Provincial Cancer Hospital, Lanzhou, China, Lanzhou, China
  • 2 Gansu Provincial Cancer Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Purpose: Investigating the diagnosis and treatment of bilateral Chylothorax after neck lymph node dissection for thyroid cancer.The clinical data of a patient with bilateral chylothorax after neck lymph node dissection for thyroid cancer were retrospectively analyzed, and the relevant literature was reviewed.The patient underwent a total thyroidectomy and left neck lymph node dissection, with no evidence of lymph fluid leakage observed during the operation. The patient experienced chest tightness, shortness of breath, dyspnea, and decreased lung auscultation breath sounds on the 7th day after the surgery. The chest X-ray examination revealed the presence of bilateral pleural effusion.Under ultrasound guidance, bilateral thoracic closed drainage tube was implanted, and a small sample of the milky white fluid was tested for chylothorax, yielded positive results. The patient is diagnosed with bilateral chylothorax. After received conservative treatment, the patient's drainage flow gradually decreased. Subsequent review of a chest X-ray showed no signs of chest hydrops, and as a result, the thoracic drainage tube was removed. The patient eventually recovered and was subsequently discharged.Bilateral chylothorax is a rare complication following neck lymph node dissection for thyroid cancer. It is deemed safe and effective to administer active conservative treatment upon early detection.

    Keywords: Chylothorax, thyroid cancer, neck lymph node dissection, Postoperative Complications, case report

    Received: 01 Sep 2024; Accepted: 16 Dec 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Wang, Xudong, Wang, Tian, Liu, Wang and Xue. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Xingyue Wang, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Gansu Provincial Cancer Hospital, Lanzhou, China, Lanzhou, China
    Youxin Tian, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Gansu Provincial Cancer Hospital, Lanzhou, China, Lanzhou, China
    Qinjiang Liu, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Gansu Provincial Cancer Hospital, Lanzhou, China, Lanzhou, China
    Jun Wang, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Gansu Provincial Cancer Hospital, Lanzhou, China, Lanzhou, China
    Jincai Xue, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Gansu Provincial Cancer Hospital, Lanzhou, China, Lanzhou, China

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