Primary lymphatic dysplasia in children: chylothorax, chylous ascites, and generalized lymphatic dysplasia.

Primary lymphatic "dysplasia", a congenital maldevelopment, interferes with function of the lymphatic system and causes effusion of chyle or lymph into the limbs and pleural or peritoneal cavity. Between 1955 and 1982, 38 Mayo Clinic patients were found to have a chylous effusion or dysplasia of the lymphatic system. In 22, the condition was secondary to surgery or other medical problems and in 16 it was primary. These cases were separated into three categories: chylothorax, chylous ascites, and generalized lymphatic dysplasia. Conservative therapy, such as a restricted fat diet or total parenteral nutrition with repeated thoracentesis or paracentesis, was effective in the children with isolated abnormalities of the lymphatic system (75% resolution rate, no deaths). All five children with documented generalized dysplasia reported in the literature had died; of the three reported here, one has died and two have become progressively worse.