Neonatal Med.  2019 Nov;26(4):213-217. 10.5385/nm.2019.26.4.213.

Successful Treatment in a Newborn Infant with Chylous Ascites and Chylous Hydrocele

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Daegu Fatima Hospital, Daegu, Korea. 0101turtle@gmail.com

Abstract

Chyle only occurs in the peritoneal cavity or around the pericardium through damage to the lymph nodes or improper drainage of the lymph and is characterized by a colostrum-like color and being rich in triglyceride. We encountered a case of a newborn infant with abdominal distention and further diagnosed chylous ascites and hydrocele by inspecting and analyzing the fluid obtained from the abdominal cavity and scrotum. Additionally, a lymphoscintigraphy was performed, which showed a decrease in the uptake of radioactive isotopes in the left iliac nodes and a delayed appearance. Here, we report a case of chyle diagnosed through puncture analysis and its subsequent successful treatment.

Keyword

Chylous hydrocele; Lymphoscintigraphy; Congenital lymphatic dysplasia

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Cavity
Chyle
Chylous Ascites*
Drainage
Humans
Infant, Newborn*
Lymph Nodes
Lymphoscintigraphy
Pericardium
Peritoneal Cavity
Punctures
Radioisotopes
Scrotum
Triglycerides
Radioisotopes

Figure

  • Figure 1. Photo of the scrotum after centesis. (A) Abdominal supine X-ray shows gas-filled small and large bowel loops with dilatation. (B) Scrotal swelling and abdominal distension are observed.

  • Figure 2. Photo of the body fluid. (A) Fluid obtained from the scrotal centesis. It appears yellowish and turbid, similar to colostrum. (B) Chyle emerges into the drain tube during conservative treatment.

  • Figure 3. Results of the lymphoscintigraphy. (A) Photo obtained immediately after the injection of radioactive isotopes. The bilateral leg lymphatic flow is normal, and bilateral inguinal lymph nodes are symmetrically well-observed. (B) Photo obtained 24 hours after the injection of radioactive isotopes. It appears that the uptake of these isotopes has decreased in the left iliac nodes. Abbreviations: S.C, subcutaneous; ANT, anterior.


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