Retrospective Study
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2024.
World J Clin Cases. May 16, 2024; 12(14): 2350-2358
Published online May 16, 2024. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v12.i14.2350
Table 1 Main demographic and clinical variables of 71 patients with lymphatic plastic bronchitis or primary chylothorax, n (%)/ mean ± SD/25th-75th percentiles
Characteristic or symptoms
Group A (n = 20)
Group B (n = 41)
Group C (n = 10)
P value
Ages (yr)33.1 ± 17.334.0 ± 19.048.3 ± 11.70.060
Gender0.472
    Male11165
    Female9255
Course (m)36.0 (6.5-129.0)a6 (2.5-20.0)a33 (5-108)0.005
Cough20 (100)a9 (22.0)a,b9 (90.0)b< 0.001
Sputum20 (100)a0 (0)a,b10 (100)b< 0.001
Chest tightness12 (60.0)29 (70.7)8 (80.0)0.501
Fever5 (25.0)4 (9.8)0 (0)0.125
Hemoptysis4 (20.0)a0 (0)a0 (0)0.008
Table 2 Computed tomography lymphangiography features and conventional chest computed tomography features in the three groups, n (%)
Imaging features
Group A (n = 20)
Group B (n = 41)
Group C (n = 10)
P value
Thoracic duct outlet obstruction 14 (70.0)33 (80.5)8 (80.0)0.674
Location of lymphatic reflux
    Peritracheal region18 (90.0)a15 (36.6)a8 (80.0)< 0.001
    Pleura6 (30.0)a33 (80.5)a9 (90.0)< 0.001
    Pericardium6 (30.0)6 (14.6)4 (40.0)0.134
    Hilum16 (80.0)a11 (26.8)a7 (70.0)< 0.001
Pulmonary abnormalities
    Ground-glass opacity19 (95.0)a18 (43.9)a8 (80.0)< 0.001
    Atelectasis4 (20.0)a,b26 (63.4)a7 (70.0)b0.003
    Interlobular septal thickening12 (60.0)a11 (26.8)a3 (30.0)0.037
    Bronchovascular bundles thickening14 (70.0)a6 (14.6)a4 (40.0)< 0.001
Localized changes in mediastinum14 (70.0)a14 (34.1)a7 (70.0)0.012
Diffuse changes in mediastinum6 (30.0)5 (12.2)3 (30.0)0.146
Cystic lesions in the axilla2 (10.0)6 (14.6)2 (20.0)0.796
Cystic lesions in the chest wall0 (0.0)2 (4.9)2 (4.9)< 0.999