Work

Diagnostic Evaluation and Management of Idiopathic Chylous Ascites: A Report of a Surgical Case

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Chylous ascites (CA) is the pathological accumulation of lymphatic fluid in the peritoneal cavity. The ascitic fluid has a high concentration of triglycerides and chylomicrons, giving it a milky appearance. Owing to its infrequent diagnosis, there is limited literature describing the workup and treatment of idiopathic chylous ascites (ICA). This report describes the case of a 39-year-old woman who presented with undifferentiated abdominal pain, with the investigations leading to a diagnosis of ICA and interventions which led to complete resolution of symptoms over a follow-up period of eight months. We propose a systematic method to exclude alternative causes of chyle leak, thus aiding in the diagnosis of ICA.

Source: Cureus

DOI: 10.7759/cureus.83562

Authors: Ann Wu, Roneil Parikh, Laurence Gluch

Institution: Concord Repatriation General Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Lymphatic Disorders and Treatments

Subfield: Surgery

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W4410127742