# Blunt Trauma-Induced Chylothorax in Noonan Syndrome: A Rare Clinical Presentation

## TL;DR

A rare case of chylothorax caused by blunt trauma in a man with Noonan syndrome is presented, highlighting the need for early diagnosis and conservative treatment.

## Contribution

This case report emphasizes the association between Noonan syndrome and chylothorax following trauma, and the success of conservative management.

## Key findings

- Blunt trauma can cause chylothorax in patients with Noonan syndrome.
- Conservative management with drainage and dietary changes was effective in this case.
- Noonan syndrome should be considered in differential diagnosis of pleural effusion after trauma.

## Abstract

Chylothorax, the accumulation of lymphatic fluid within the pleural cavity, is rarely caused by blunt trauma. We present the case of a 26-year-old male involved in a high-speed motor vehicle collision who sustained a T8 chance fracture and developed progressive right-sided pleural effusion. The patient was managed conservatively with drainage and dietary modification. His clinical history of congenital cardiac surgery, abnormal facies, and prior pleural effusion raised suspicion for Noonan syndrome, which has been associated with lymphatic maldevelopment and predisposition to chylothorax. This case underscores the importance of including chylothorax in the differential diagnosis of pleural effusion following blunt thoracic trauma, particularly in patients with underlying lymphatic abnormalities, and highlights the effectiveness of conservative management in low-output cases.