Transudative chylothorax associated with alcoholic cirrhosis

We present the case of a 53-year-old man with decompensated alcoholic cirrhosis who was referred for right pleural effusion. After investigation, the patient was ultimately diagnosed with cirrhotic chylothorax. Chylothorax is a rare manifestation of cirrhosis, which results from the trans-diaphragmatic passage of chylous ascites. While chylothorax generally results in an exudative pleural effusion, cirrhotic chylothorax is always a transudative effusion. Biochemical characteristics are useful for diagnosis, avoiding potentially harmful diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.