Mediastinal Lymphangioma and Chylothorax: The Role of Radiotherapy

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Abstract

An 11-year-old boy with a capillary/cystic lymphangioma of the posterior mediastinum is described, in whom a symptomatic chylothorax proved to be refractory to surgical management. The addition of low dose mediastinal radiotherapy (2,000 cGy/10 fractions) resulted in prompt and permanent resolution of the chylothorax. Although operation is the primary modality of treatment for these lesions, the addition of radiotherapy in such refractory patients appears to be well tolerated and efficacious and should result in few long-term complications.

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The judgments and opinions expressed herein reflect solely those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the United States Government or the Department of the Air Force.

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