Respiratory medicine: chylothorax: practice question

A General Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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General Medicine · Respiratory medicine: chylothorax

Sample item

After thoracic surgery a patient develops a milky pleural effusion. Which finding confirms chylothorax?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Triglycerides above 110 mg/dL

Chylothorax results from thoracic duct injury or obstruction, as in trauma, surgery or lymphoma. Pleural triglycerides above 110 mg/dL confirm it, and chylomicrons may be detected. Management includes dietary fat restriction, drainage and duct ligation if persistent.

Option by option

  • A. Triglycerides above 110 mg/dL (correct)

    Correct. Triglycerides above 110 mg/dL define chylothorax.

  • B. Cholesterol crystals only

    Cholesterol crystals suggest pseudochylothorax.

  • C. Glucose below 60 mg/dL

    Low glucose suggests TB, rheumatoid or empyema.

  • D. pH below 7.2

    Low pH suggests empyema.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More General Medicine questions

Questions about this General Medicine question

What is the answer to this General Medicine question?

The best answer is A, Triglycerides above 110 mg/dL. Chylothorax results from thoracic duct injury or obstruction, as in trauma, surgery or lymphoma.

Why is "Cholesterol crystals only" not the answer?

Cholesterol crystals suggest pseudochylothorax.

Why is "Glucose below 60 mg/dL" not the answer?

Low glucose suggests TB, rheumatoid or empyema.

Why is "pH below 7.2" not the answer?

Low pH suggests empyema.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Respiratory medicine: chylothorax in General Medicine. Pleural triglycerides above 110 mg/dL confirm it, and chylomicrons may be detected. Management includes dietary fat restriction, drainage and duct ligation if persistent.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Respiratory medicine: chylothorax?

For each disease know the classic presentation, the best test, and the first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other General Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.