Primary idiopathic silent chylopericardium

Abstract

Chylopericardium usually occurs secondary to trauma, cardiothoracic surgery, radiation therapy, or neoplasm of the mediastinum. Idiopathic chylopericardium is extremely rare. We report a case of primary chylopericardium in a 79-year-old male patient. Although pericardial window and thoracic duct ligation are the treatment of choice, the patient has been doing well for six months since video-assisted thoracoscopic pericardial window. © 2013 Kwon et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.