Rodríguez-Hidalgo Luis Alejandro, Concepción-Urteaga Luis Alberto, Cornejo-Portella Jorge Luis, Alquizar-Horna Oscar Neri, Aguilar-Villanueva Daniel Anderson, Concepción-Zavaleta Marcio José, Ruiz-Caballero Diana Cecilia
Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Trujillo, Trujillo, Perú; Centro de Excelencia para el Manejo de Tuberculosis Luz Caviedes Rojas, Hospital Regional Docente de Trujillo, Trujillo, Perú. Address: Manzana A Lote 1-M, Urbanización Los Portales del Golf, Víctor Larco, Trujillo, Perú. Email;
Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Trujillo, Trujillo, Perú; Centro de Excelencia para el Manejo de Tuberculosis Luz Caviedes Rojas, Hospital Regional Docente de Trujillo, Trujillo, Perú.
Medwave. 2019 Jun 19;19(5):e7655. doi: 10.5867/medwave.2019.05.7655.
Tuberculous chylothorax is a rare infectious disease that occurs when the thoracic duct is obstructed. Treatment is directed to the tuberculosis infection. A 55-year-old male, driver, born in Trujillo (Peru) is admitted to the emergency department with increasing dyspnea and a 5-day dry cough. The physical examination revealed vocal fremitus, dullness to percussion, and a vesicular murmur that was decreased on the lower 2/3 of the left hemithorax. The X-ray and the thoracic ultrasound revealed significant left pleural effusion. The thoracocentesis drained fluid identified as chylothorax. Subsequently, a thoracic tube was placed, with a decrease in pleural fluid volume and later normalization of the cytochemical changes. Diagnostic video bronchoscopy was performed with a bronchoalveolar aspirate, revealing acid-fast bacilli. The patient received antituberculosis treatment with a favorable outcome. Tuberculous chylothorax is an important cause of chylothorax to be considered in endemic areas of tuberculosis. Proper treatment of the infection leads to resolution of the disease.
