Chyle leak: A rare complication post-hemithyroidectomy. Case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND: Thyroidectomy is one of the common neck surgeries. Well recognized complications include postoperative bleeding, hypocalcaemia and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. Chyle leak post-thyroidectomy is extremely rare. Most of the reported cases have had a complete central compartment neck dissection. METHODS AND RESULTS: This is a case report of a patient who suffered from chyle leak after a left hemithyroidectomy without a complete central compartment neck dissection. The patient was managed conservatively with low fat diet and observation. A protocol for approaching thyroid patients with chyle leak is proposed based on a comprehensive literature review. CONCLUSION: Chyle leak post-thyroidectomy for a benign disease is a very rare complication. Nevertheless, head and neck surgeons should consider it in the differential diagnosis of neck swelling post-thyroidectomy.