Neck mass and bilateral pleural effusions in a 53-year-old female

Chylothorax refers to the accumulation of chyle in the pleural cavity and is a rare cause of pleural effusion, especially bilaterally. In clinical practice, the presence of milky fluid in the pleural cavity raises suspicion for chylothorax. The most common cause is trauma, iatrogenic or non, resulting from thoracic duct injury, which transports chyle from the lymphatic system into the bloodstream. Here, we present the case of a 53-year-old female who was referred to our hospital with bilateral pleural effusions and a left supraclavicular mass. Diagnostic investigations excluded nontraumatic causes of chylothorax. The potential diagnosis was traumatic chylothorax, a diagnosis of exclusion, as it appeared after muscle strain. This condition was resolved with a fat-free diet and repose without any relapse.