Chocolate-Colored Pseudochylothorax in a Woman with a History of Pleuropulmonary Tuberculosis

Objective: Rare disease Background: Pseudochylothorax is a rare entity, with only a few hundred case reports worldwide. It presents as a pleural effusion rich in lipids, typically with a cloudy, milky appearance. The diagnosis is made based on the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the pleural fluid.Case Report: This is the case report of a 55-year-old woman with a history of pleuropulmonary tuberculosis that was treated in childhood, with a new infection and treatment in adulthood that evolved to a left pleural effusion. Thirteen years after completing her last treatment for tuberculosis, the patient developed general fatigue and dyspnea on exertion. Computed tomography of the chest confirmed the presence of a pleural collection in the same lo-cation as in adolescence, suggesting a chronic evolution with encystation. The patient underwent ultrasound -guided diagnostic thoracentesis. The collected liquid was thick, chocolate-colored, with the following biochemical characteristics: pH, 7.3; glucose, 37.9 mg/dL; LDL, 2059.8 IU/L; total protein, 8.8 mg/dL; triglycerides, 90 mg/dL; adenosine deaminase, 56 U/L; and cholesterol, 300 mg/dL. The effusion was characterized as a pseudochylo-thorax. The cell count showed 631 000 leukocytes/& mu;L, with 87.9% polymorphonuclear cells. Owing to the pa-tient's respiratory symptoms, an evacuatory thoracentesis was performed. After the procedure, the patient's symptoms improved.Conclusions: Although pseudochylothorax is a rare condition, its possibility must always be kept in mind to avoid the haz-ards of misdiagnosis. In addition to the 'classic' milky and machine oil appearance, a chocolate-colored appear-ance should also serve as a clue to the diagnosis of pseudochylothorax.

Automated summary

This article reports a case of a rare disease called pseudochylothorax and provides a detailed description of its characteristics. Pseudochylothorax is characterized by pleural effusion rich in lipids, typically with a cloudy, milky appearance. The case report includes the patient's medical history, clinical presentation, and diagnostic methods, as well as recommendations for diagnosis and treatment.