Lymphoscintigraphy in idiopathic recurrent chylopericardium

Abstract

Chylopericardium is a clinical condition due to the accumulation of triglyceride-rich chylous fluid within the pericardial space. It may be primary (idiopathic), without any apparent cause or secondary to some precipitating factors, such as cardiac surgery, malignancy, trauma, infection and radiation. Primary chylopericardium is rare and a diagnosis of exclusion, so far less than 150 cases have been reported in the literature. The authors present a case of recurrent primary chylopericardium diagnosed by lymphoscintigraphy.