Chylothorax in gastric adenocarcinoma: A case report and systematic review of the English literature

BACKGROUND: Chylothorax is a rare complication of gastric adenocarcinoma and data on its identification, prevalence and outcomes are scant. OBJECTIVES: To enable identification of gastric carcinoma as a cause of chylothorax. METHODS: A case report and a systematic review were conducted of all reported cases of gastric adenocarcinoma with chylothorax as the presenting complaint in the English literature. RESULTS: Chylothorax is a rare presenting complaint of gastric adenocarcinoma. There are only 18 case reports in the world literature, of which six are in English. Chylothorax occurred variably in gastric adenocarcinoma, either as a presenting feature or as a complication of therapy. Here, we analyze the index case and six patients in whom gastric carcinoma presented with chylothorax as the initial symptom. Respiratory features of cough and dyspnea preempted any abdominal complaint. Bilateral chylothorax (66%) with associated chylous ascites (50%) was common. Four of the six patients had skin lymphedema also as a prominent feature. The chylothoraces have been treated by therapeutic pleurocentesis, intercoastal tube drainage and restriction of oral intake. Gastric adenocarcinoma was associated with high mortality (50%) and morbidity. CONCLUSIONS: Chylothorax can be the presenting feature of gastric adenocarcinoma. A thorough search for this life-threatening disease should be done before labeling the chylothorax as idiopathic.