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Thoracic Duct Embolization: Technique and Applications

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Endovascular Interventions

Abstract

Thoracic duct embolization (TDE) is an image-guided, minimally invasive alternative to surgical ligation for the treatment of chylothorax and chylopericardium. Chylothorax is a pleural effusion containing chyle. Thoracentesis commonly demonstrates a milky, lymphocytic predominate exudate. Laboratory assessment will reveal chylomicrons and often demonstrate elevated triglyceride levels (>110 mg/dL). Chylothorax can result from trauma, commonly iatrogenic, as well as a variety of nontraumatic causes including malignancy, congenital lymphatic disorders, lymphatic obstruction, increased venous pressure, and transdiaphragmatic passage of chylous ascites. Surgery in the chest, especially esophagectomy and aortic repair, is a common cause of iatrogenic chylothorax. In this chapter, we describe our approach to evaluating and treating chylothorax with TDE.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Benjamin C. Gillen MD & Jeremy L. Friese MD, MBA

  2. Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Bruce A. Bowser MD & Ryan M. Hegg MD

Authors
  1. Benjamin C. Gillen MD
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  2. Bruce A. Bowser MD
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  3. Ryan M. Hegg MD
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  4. Jeremy L. Friese MD, MBA
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital Loyola University Medical Center, Glen Ellyn, Illinois, USA

    Robert S. Dieter

  2. Northern Illinois Surgery Center, Naperville, Illinois, USA

    Raymond A. Dieter, Jr.

  3. University of Tennessee Medical Center, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA

    Raymond A. Dieter, III

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Gillen, B.C., Bowser, B.A., Hegg, R.M., Friese, J.L. (2014). Thoracic Duct Embolization: Technique and Applications. In: Dieter, R., Dieter, Jr., R., Dieter, III, R. (eds) Endovascular Interventions. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7312-1_99

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7312-1_99

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-7311-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-7312-1

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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