# Beyond the Milky Pleural Fluid: A 14-Year Study on Non-Traumatic Chylothorax From a Tertiary Care Hospital in India

## TL;DR

This paper presents five cases of non-traumatic chylothorax over 14 years, highlighting its varied causes and clinical significance.

## Contribution

The study contributes a detailed case series of non-traumatic chylothorax from an Indian tertiary care center.

## Key findings

- Five distinct etiologies of non-traumatic chylothorax were identified over 14 years.
- Pleural fluid analysis confirmed the diagnosis in all reported cases.
- The cases illustrate the diverse clinical spectrum of non-traumatic chylothorax.

## Abstract

Chylothorax is an uncommon type of pleural effusion caused by the accumulation of chyle in the pleural space. It represents 2% to 3% of pleural effusions and can be classified into two categories: traumatic and non-traumatic. Chylothorax may carry high morbidity and mortality, especially when associated with trauma or malignancies. We present five cases of non-traumatic chylothorax, confirmed by pleural fluid analysis, with different etiologies seen at the Metro Center for Respiratory Diseases, Noida, from 2010 to 2024. These cases represent the wide spectrum of conditions associated with this unusual finding.