[Yellow nail syndrome. Lymphatic vessel hypoplasia as a cause of pleural effusion].

Yellow nail syndrome is a clinical entity characterized by lymphedema, nail dystrophy and exudative pleural effusion. The cause of the syndrome is thought to be hypoplasia of the lymphatic vessels, with local infection or inflammation as a common precipitating event. Treatment is symptomatic: chemical or surgical induced pleurodesis is the best way of controlling symptomatic pleural effusion.