[Isolated chylopericardium. Review of the literature apropos of a case].

Isolated chylopericardium is a rare entity with an obscure aetiology. "Cardiomegaly" was discovered incidentally in a 40 year old woman and was found to correspond to chylopericardium. The patient was referred to us after a failed attempt of left pericardio-pleural fenestration. Lymphography revealed injection of the left anterior mediastinal lymph node chain from the arch of the thoracic duct. At operation, the chylous leaks were sutured from this chain. Anatomical study of the lymphatic drainage of the heart revealed interconnections between the left anterior mediastinal, left recurrent, left suprabronchial lymph node chains and the thoracic duct. A review of the literature confirmed that chylous leak generally occurs from this lymphatic system when the cases reported have been investigated by lymphangiography or explored surgically.