Page 82 - FINAL COMPENDIUM 2020-2021 27.2.2022

CERVICAL CHYLOMA FOLLOWING NECK DISSECTION: THE UNEXPECTED

Ng JA, Saridah M

Cervical chyloma occurrence following neck dissection procedure is one of a very rare
complication. Chyloma is formed as a result of chyle leak due to injury to the thoracic
duct, with the left side being more common than the right. This may be due to trauma,
iatrogenic or an unknown cause. During neck dissection, it is usually presentable within
one to two days postoperatively. Extensive or prolonged chyle leak may lead to poor
nutrition, resulting in immunosuppression. This in turn renders the patient vulnerable to
infection-related complications such as sepsis and pneumonia. Awareness and the ability
to identify this rare complication is vital for timely diagnosis and thus, further treatment
and management. We present a delayed presentation of left cervical chyloma of a patient
with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.

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Free paper presented at the 25 MAOMS Annual Scientific Meeting on 19 March 2021
Published in Malaysian Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (2021); 19, page 54
Dr Ng Jo Ann
Dr Saridah binti Mahdah
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Tawau Hospital
Tawau, Sabah

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