ISOLATED MASSIVE CHYLOPERICARDIUM

The eleventh case of isolated massive chylopericardium is presented and the ten other cases reported in the world's literature are discussed. About half of the cases are secondary to either mediastinal lymphangiomatous hamartomas or mediastinal lymphangiectasis, but in the remaining cases no cause could be found. In most cases, with proper diagnosis and therapy, the prognosis is excellent but therapy must include a large pericardial window or even hemipericardiectomy and ligation of the thoracic duct just above the diaphragm. © 1968.