We report the case of a 59-year-old man who developed a high-output chylothorax after bilateral lung transplantation. For exact localization of the leak, lymphoscintigraphy was performed before re-thoracotomy by application of Tc-99m-nanocolloid single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT/CT), which showed a radioactive accumulation in the medial lower thoracic cavity, localized below the right upper pulmonary vein. This technique is actually an overly complex, time-consuming procedure for proper surgical planning in selected cases.
Copyright © 2011 International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.