Chylothorax and cirrhosis of the liver: a case report

Chylothorax occurring in the setting of a lymphoma or a surgical procedure involving the area around the thoracic duct is a well-known phenomenon. Less common is the occurrence of chylothorax in conjunction with cirrhosis of the liver. Due to the paucity of data, it is uncertain if chylothorax is an associated or an independent sign of cirrhosis. The case reports in the literature favor the former, as demonstrated in this case of a patient with cirrhosis of the liver who developed a chylothorax.