Etymed
chylothorax
Definition
Accumulation of lymphatic fluid in the pleural cavity
Clinical context
A 5-year-old child presents with sudden onset dyspnea and chest pain following a motor vehicle accident. Imaging reveals fluid accumulation in the pleural space with characteristic milky appearance on thoracentesis. The patient has a history of congenital heart disease and recently underwent cardiac surgery.
Mnemonic
CHEST = Chylo + Hemothorax, but C for Chylothorax is lymphatic fluid accumulation