Chylous leakage: a rare complication after axillary lymph node dissection in breast cancer and surgical management

Abstract

Chylous leakage is an extremely rare complication of surgery for breast cancer. We experienced a case of chylous leakage after axillary lymph node dissection. A 38-year-old woman with invasive ductal carcinoma in the left breast underwent a modified radical mastectomy after four cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The postoperative serosanguinous drainage fluid became "milky" on the fourth postoperative day. After trying conservative management, we re-explored the axilla and ligated the lymphatic trunk. Although the success of many cases supports conservative management, timely surgical intervention represents an alternative in cases where leakage persists or where the output is high.

Keywords: Breast neoplasms; Chyle; Lymph node excision; Surgical procedures.

Figure 1

Operative findings. The clear fluid is running from one duct (black arrow).