Successful treatment of chylothorax and superior vena cava obstruction by radiotherapy.

Chylothorax, the accumulation of thoracic duct lymph in the pleural cavity, is an uncommon presentation of malignancy, but one that is generally regarded as indicating a grave prognosis.' Chylothorax following obstruction of the superior vena cava, first described experimentally in dogs by Blalock et al, is a recognised, and frequently fatal, complication of central venous catheterisation.3 We describe a case of anaplastic carcinoma presenting with superior vena caval obstruction and chylothorax with a two year remission of both conditions after mediastinal irradiation.