Two cases of papillary adenocarcinoma of the thyroid gland associated with chylothorax

Abstract

Case 1. An 85-year-old woman had a papillary adenocarcinoma of the thyroid gland and a pleural effusion. The pleural effusion appeared to be a chylous exudate and it did not re-accumulate after thoracenthesis. Thoracic imaging indicated that the chylothorax was caused by direct invasion of the thoracic duct by the thyroid carcinoma. Case 2. A 53-year-old woman had a 20- year history of recurrent chylothorax. She died due to sepsis one year after the third admission for dyspnea and chylothorax. The autopsy findings included papillary adenocarcinoma of the thyroid gland with metastasis to the left supraclavicular lymph nodes. The thoracic duct was inflamed, fibrotic, and completely obstructed. Invasion by the carcinoma may have compressed and destroyed the thoracic duct, and caused chylothorax. Recurrent inflammatory granulation caused total obstruction of the thoracic duct. Reports of chylothorax associated with carcinoma of the thyroid gland are rare.