Successful management of chyluria using percutaneous thoracic duct stenting

Abstract

Abstract Background Chyluria is defined as the presence of chyle in the urine that is caused by chylous reflux through the communication between the lymphatic system and the urinary tract. Thoracic duct stenosis or obstruction is one of the causes of chyluria. Although the diagnosis of chyluria is not difficult, treatment is still challenging. Although there have been no standard guidelines for the treatment of chyluria, interventional techniques now offer minimally invasive treatment options for chyluria such as interstitial lymphatic embolization, ductoplasty with balloon, or thoracic duct stenting. There are only few case reports about thoracic duct stenting in the literature. Case presentation: Here, we report a case of chyluria due to obstruction of the junction between the thoracic duct and subclavian vein in a 64 -year- old female patient. The patient was treated with balloon plasty for lymphovenous junction obstruction and interstitial lymphatic embolization for chyluria. However, chyluria was recurrent and the patient was successful treated with thoracic duct stenting. Conclusions This report demonstrates the feasibility, effective of using thoracic duct stenting in the treatment chyuria due to lymphovenous junction obstruction.