Isolated Right Chylothorax Secondary to Superior Vena Cava (SVC) Obstruction Successfully Treated With Endovascular Stenting
Chylothorax, an uncommon cause of pleural effusion, typically results from thoracic duct injury or obstruction. Superior vena cava (SVC) obstruction is a rare etiology, often leading to right-sided chylothorax due to disrupted lymphatic drainage. This case report describes a 70-year-old female patient with a history of breast carcinoma who presented with right-sided chylothorax secondary to SVC thrombosis caused by a neglected chemoport. A CT venogram confirmed chronic SVC occlusion. Endovascular intervention, including angioplasty and stenting, successfully restored venous patency, resolving the chylothorax within 48 hours. This case underscores the role of interventional radiology in diagnosing and treating central venous obstruction-related chylothorax, offering a minimally invasive and effective therapeutic approach.
Authors
- Mithilesh Arumulla
- S. Prabhu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3401-4289)
- Vikram Damaraju (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2695-5975)
- S Yugandhar
- Ravindra Adimulam
Institutions
- Mangalore University (IN)
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences (IN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Cureus
- Published
- 2025-06-17
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.86212
- Primary Topic
- Lymphatic Disorders and Treatments
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00