LYMPHANGIOMATOUS MALFORMATION OF THORACIC DUCT ASSOCIATED WITH CHYLOUS PLEURAL EFFUSION

Pulmonary Lymphangioleiomyomatosis: A Case Report in Postmenopausal Woman Treated with Pleurodesis and Progesterone (Medroxyprogesterone Acetate)

The main problem in the treatment of pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis, which frequently occurs in the reproductive age, is the control of chylothorax and disease progression. We herein report a case of a 62-year-old woman who underwent surgery for recurrent chylothorax. Histologic examination of lung and lymph node biopsies demonstrated lymphangioleiomyomatosis. Thirty-six months after tetracycline pleurodesis and high-dose medroxyprogesterone acetate therapy, the disease was stable and chylothorax effectively controlled. It would therefore appear that hormonal treatment with medroxyprogesterone acetate may be beneficial in postmenopausal women.

Two cases of pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis in postmenopausal women

Pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis is a rare disease that occurs exclusively in young women, who typically present with progressive dyspnea and repeated spontaneous pneumothorax. The diagnosis of this disease in elderly women with a non-progressive clinical course is extremely rare. We herein report two incidentally discovered cases of pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis in postmenopausal patients. These patients had not presented with any respiratory symptoms. Lymphangioleiomyomatosis may be related to hormonal influences; however, the etiology and pathogenesis of the pulmonary lesions that develop in postmenopausal females are unclear, even after a review of the literature.

Life threatening chylous pleural and pericardial effusion in a patient with Behçet's syndrome

Chylothorax and chylopericardium secondary to thrombosis of the superior vena cava and the innominate and subclavian veins were diagnosed in a patient with Behçet's syndrome. Immunosuppressive treatment, diet, and underwater seal drainage led to a diminished volume of pleural fluid and pericardial fluid and to a diminished concentration of triglyceride in them; pleurodesis with tetracycline was then performed.

Spinal cord arteriovenous malformation with an associated lymphatic anomaly. Case report

Spinal cord arteriovenous malformations (AVM's), like other vascular anomalies of the central nervous system, can be associated with similar vascular lesions of the skin and viscera. A 7-year-old girl, who presented with rapidly progressing paraplegia, was found to have a spinal cord AVM, cutaneous angioma, and a chylous malformation of the lymphatic system. She had previously undergone treatment for a posterior thoracic cutaneous angioma. At surgery, upon incision of the paravertebral muscle fascia, viscous pale fluid was encountered emanating from a foramen in the thoracic lamina. The spinal AVM was resected in spite of concern that the abnormality represented spinal osteomyelitis. Postoperatively, there was full return of function in the lower extremities, along with recurrent episodes of chylothorax, which slowly came under control with dietary manipulation. A review of the anatomy of the thoracic duct and nontraumatic causes of chylothorax is presented, and the association of cutaneous and central angiomas is discussed. Finally, the treatment of chylothorax is delineated.

Oophorectomy for pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis: a case report

We report a patient with pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis successfully treated by pleurectomy and oophorectomy.

Management of nontraumatic chylothorax

Twenty-two patients with chylothorax have been treated at the National Institutes of Health since 1955. In 9 of these patients, the condition resulted from an antecedent operation and in 13, it occurred without a history of prior operation (nontraumatic). All 6 of the patients with tumors in whom nontraumatic chylothorax developed had a lymphoma. Four of these 6 also had a chylous ascites, while 6 of the 7 patients without tumors had an associated chylous ascites. Only 3 of the 13 patients with nontraumatic chylothorax responded to nonoperative therapy alone with stabilization of the pleural effusions. A single patient with systemic lupus erythematosus responded to steroid therapy. In contrast, 3 of 4 patients who underwent thoracotomy for nontraumatic chylothorax had permanent relief of their chylous pleural effusions. In the absence of medically treatable disease, thoracotomy with ligation of the thoracic duct and/or pleurectomy or pleurodesis can provide substantial palliation for patients with nontraumatic chylothorax, even when a discrete source of lymph leakage cannot be localized or ascites is present. Early surgical therapy of nontraumatic chylothorax is advocated in such circumstances.

Pulmonary lymphangiomyomatosis: treatment with castration

Pulmonary lymphangiomyomatosis (PLM) is a rare disease of smooth muscle proliferation that generally leads to an early death due to respiratory insufficiency. The disease only affects women. Exacerbations with pregnancy and after hormonal manipulation have been documented. There is presently no successful treatment of the disease. Castration as a means of early therapy has been associated with a stable respiratory picture in our patient. Peritoneal-jugular shunt can benefit women with significant ascities.

Congenital chylothorax: report of unique case associated with 'H' -type tracheo-oesophageal fistula

A case of congenital chylothorax associated with a congenital 'H'-type tracheo-oesophageal fistula is reported. The development of the thoracic duct is described and the possible embryological association with tracheo-oesophageal fistula is discussed. The management of the case is reviewed.

Lymphangiomyoma of the Thoracic Duct with Previously Undescribed Epithelial Tubules

A case of mediastinal lymphangiomyoma with tubules covered with epithelium is reported. The epithelium of these tubules is morphologically identical to that of the bronchi. It is the first time that epithelial, presumably pulmonary, elements have been described in an extrapulmonary lymphangiomyoma. It is concluded that the present case of a mediastinal lymphangiomyoma suggests a hamartomatous malformation. Whether this applies in general to lymphangiomyomatosis still remains a matter of discussion.

Lymphangiomyomatosis: morphogenetic study and ultrastructural confirmation of the histogenesis of the lung lesion

A 34-year old woman underwent a surgical intervention as a result of a retroperitoneal tumor. This tumor was excised and the pathological diagnosis was lymphangiomyoma. Two months later she developed a spontaneous right pneumothorax with a chylous pleural effusion. Roentgenograms showed that the lungs had developed a honeycomb pattern. She was treated surgically and at the same time a biopsy was performed. Sixteen months later she deveoped a left pneumothorax which necessitated additional surgery, and a further biopsy was taken. She died of respiratory insufficiency 2 years after the clinical onset of the symptoms. The pathologic material was studied by both electron and light microscopy in serial sections. The electron-microscopic study proved the muscular nature of this condition. The light microscopic study of the serial sections showed that the lung lesion was due to the proliferation of the muscle cells associated with the lymphatics surrounding the acini.

Pulmonary lymphangiomyomatosis. A review

Anatomic and clinical observations of 28 cases, including 23 previously unpublished, of pulmonary lymphangiomyomatosis are recorded and discussed. This brings the total reported to 57. All patients were women in the reproductive age group with the major complaint of breathlessness. This was usually progressive, and death from pulmonary insufficiency resulted within 10 years. Functional changes were obstructive or restrictive, or both. Pneumothorax, chylous effusions and hemoptysis were frequent complications. Radiographically the lesions initially appear as fine, linear and nodular, predominantly basal densities, and progress to a pattern of bullous change, or honeycombing, involving all portions of the lungs not sparing the region of the costophrenic sinuses as is typical of eosinophilic granuloma. There may be associated pleural effusions. A progressively increasing lung volume is characteristic. The lesions consist of an irregular, nodular or laminar "irrational" proliferation of smooth muscle within all portions of the lung, with loss of parenchyma leading to honeycombing. Proliferated muscle can obstruct bronchioles (with air trapping and formation of bullae often complicated by pneumothorax), venules (with pulmonary hemorrhage and hemosiderosis accompanied clinically by hemoptysis) and lymphatics (with chylothorax or chyloperitoneum). Both thoracic and abdominal lymph nodes and the thoracic duct can also be involved in the myoproliferative process with formation of subsidiary minute channels and obstruction. Renal or perirenal angiomyolipomas can also occur, as exemplified by 2 patients in the present series. Identical pulmonary lesions occasionally occur in tuberous sclerosis. Especially since these patients usually have no neurologic disturbances and are almost women, the possibility of a relationship between tuberous sclerosis and lymphangiomyomatosis must be considered. One feature of note in pulmonary lesions of tuberous sclerosis is the presence of adenomatoid proliferations of epithelium. Such changes were also observed in 2 patients of the present series, and it is remarkable that both of these women had "retarded"children. At present the question of whether by lymphangiomyomatosis is a forme fruste of tuberous sclerosis must be considered as unresolved. It may yield to further investigation, possibility including chromosomal studies.