Chyloptysis with right middle lobe syndrome complicated postoperatively by chylothorax: an unusual cause of right middle lobe syndrome

Case Report: Middle lobe syndrome: a rare presentation in eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis

Background

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) is a group of disorders characterized by necrotizing inflammation of small- and medium-sized blood vessels and the presence of circulating ANCA. Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is a systemic ANCA-associated vasculitis, characterized by peripheral eosinophilia, neuropathy, palpable purpuras or petechiae, renal and cardiac involvement, sinusitis, asthma, and transient pulmonary infiltrates. Middle lobe syndrome (MLS) is defined as recurrent or chronic atelectasis of the right middle lobe of the lung, and it is a potential complication of asthma.

Case presentation

Herein, we describe a case of MLS in a 51-year-old woman, never-smoker, affected by EGPA, presenting exclusively with leukocytosis and elevated concentrations of acute-phase proteins, without any respiratory symptom, cough, or hemoptysis. Chest computed tomography (CT) imaging documented complete atelectasis of the middle lobe, together with complete obstruction of lobar bronchial branch origin. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) revealed complete stenosis of the middle lobar bronchus origin, thus confirming the diagnosis of MLS, along with distal left main bronchus stenosis. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) did not detect any infection. Bronchial biopsies included plasma cells, neutrophil infiltrates, only isolated eosinophils, and no granulomas, providing the hypothesis of vasculitic acute involvement less likely. First-line agents directed towards optimizing pulmonary function (mucolytics, bronchodilators, and antibiotic course) were therefore employed. However, the patient did not respond to conservative treatment; hence, endoscopic management of airway obstruction was performed, with chest CT documenting resolution of middle lobe atelectasis.

Conclusion

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first detailed description of MLS in EGPA completely resolved through FOB. Identification of MLS in EGPA appears essential as prognosis, longitudinal management, and treatment options may differ from other pulmonary involvement in AAV patients.

[Surgery for chyloptysis]

Chyloptysis is a rare disease characterized by formation of bronchial casts containing chyle and repeating bronchial tree branching. The authors report a 56-year-old woman with chyloptysis accompanied by cough and expectoration of milky bronchial casts, as well several episodes of asphyxia. Stages of diagnosis and successful treatment including thoracic duct ligation and skeletonization of the root of the left lung are described. The authors also analyze literature data on etiology, pathogenesis and feasibility of conservative and surgical treatment of these patients.

Late-onset chylothorax during chemotherapy after lobectomy for lung cancer: A case report and review of the literature

RATIONALE

Chylothorax is usually diagnosed within a few days after lobectomy. Late-onset chylothorax following trauma or thoracic surgery is rare but potentially lethal, lacking reliable preventive methods.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 54-year-old male patient complained of dyspnea during adjuvant chemotherapy on the 35th postoperative day after right middle lobectomy and systemic lymph node dissection (SLND) for lung cancer. His computed tomography indicated massive pleural effusion filling in the right chest cavity.

DIAGNOSES

The patient was primarily diagnosed as late-onset chylothorax, without definite evidence to exclude spontaneous chylous leakage.

INTERVENTIONS

Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic thoracic duct ligation (TDL) was performed for him, as conservative treatment using octreotide with fat-free diet turned out to be ineffective.

OUTCOMES

His pleural effusion was gradually diminished after reoperation, and the patient was discharged 9 days after TDL.

LESSONS

Postoperative late-onset or spontaneous chylothorax should be kept in mind after pulmonary resection and SLND, and the exclusion of chylous leakage could be considered as a precondition of chest tube removal.

Chyloptysis causing plastic bronchitis

Chyloptysis is a rare clinical problem that is associated with conditions affecting lymphatic channels in the thorax. Diagnosis is usually made when the patients present with expectoration of milky-white sputum or of thick tenacious mucus in the shape of smaller bronchi (bronchial cast). Typically the symptoms resolve after coughing up of the bronchial casts. Pleural, mediastinal, pulmonary or lymphatic abnormalities result in chyloptysis. Lymphangiography and detection of lipids (cholesterol or triglycerides) in sputum help to establish the diagnosis. However, lymphangiography may not be positive in all patients. We report 2 patients with chyloptysis and bronchial casts with different etiologies. Abnormal lymphatics were demonstrated in one of our cases, but the second patients lymphangiogram was normal. In this patient we suspect that high venous filling pressures due to congestive heart failure had a causative effect in the setting of compromised lymphatic drainage in the thorax due to a prior history of radiation therapy to the chest for lymphoma.

Middle lobe syndrome: a review of clinicopathological features, diagnosis and treatment

Middle lobe syndrome (MLS) is a rare but important clinical entity that has been poorly defined in the literature. It is characterized by recurrent or chronic collapse of the middle lobe of the right lung but can also involve the lingula of the left lung. Pathophysiologically, there are two forms of MLS, namely obstructive and nonobstructive. Obstructive MLS is usually caused by endobronchial lesions or extrinsic compression of the middle lobe bronchus such as from hilar lymphadenopathy or tumors of neoplastic origin, resulting in postobstructive atelectasis and pneumonitis. In the nonobstructive type, no obstruction of the middle lobe bronchus is evident during bronchoscopy or with computerized tomography of the chest. The etiology of the nonobstructive form is not completely understood. Inefficient collateral ventilation, infection and inflammation in the middle lobe or lingula are thought to play a role, and bronchiectasis is the most common histological finding. Patients with proven endobronchial lesions or malignancy are usually offered surgical resection directly. This contrasts with nonobstructive MLS, where most patients respond to medical treatment consisting of bronchodilators, mucolytics and broad-spectrum antibiotics. However, some patients do not respond to conservative treatment and may suffer irreversible damage of the middle lobe or lingula, in addition to having recurrent symptoms of infection or inflammation. These selected patients can be offered surgical resection of the middle lobe or lingula, which is associated with a low mortality rate and favorable outcome.