Thoracic Empyema Secondary to Congenital Chylothorax in a 14-Month-Old Boy with Noonan Syndrome

Takeru Oikawa, Chiharu Ota, Shinya Iwasawa, Takehiko Onoki, Hideyuki Ikeda, Takushi Hanita
Tohoku University Hospital.
Japan

Case Reports in Pediatrics
Case Rep Pediatr 2021;
DOI: 10.1155/2021/6620353

Abstract
Thoracic empyema usually occurs as a complication of bacterial pneumonia, but in rare cases, it is caused by hematogenous dissemination secondary to nonpulmonary diseases. Congenital chylothorax or chylothorax in children is associated with maldevelopment of the lymphatic system, nonimmune hydrops fetalis, several syndromes including Down syndrome, Noonan syndrome, or Turner syndrome, a complication of thoracic surgery, right heart failure with high central venous pressure, or tumors. There are very few reports of empyema associated with preexisting chylothorax. In the present study, we describe a rare case of thoracic empyema associated with congenital chylothorax and supravalvular pulmonary stenosis associated with clinically diagnosed Noonan syndrome. It is necessary to closely monitor patients with chylothorax because they are at risk of developing severe lung infections, such as pleural empyema or lung abscesses.

Category
Pulmonary Lymphatic Disease

Age Focus: Pediatric Pulmonary Vascular Disease

Fresh or Filed Publication: Filed (PHiled). Greater than 1-2 years since publication

Article Access
Free PDF File or Full Text Article Available Through PubMed or DOI: Yes

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