Yellow nail syndrome linked to a mediastinal lipoma: a case report

Abstract Background Yellow nail syndrome is characterized by a yellow discoloration of the nails, respiratory symptoms, and lymphedema. It was first described in 1964 and has an estimated prevalence of less than 1:1.000.000. Despite its diverse manifestations affecting different organ systems and a...

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Main Authors: Christoph Müller, Ingo Stricker, Peter Hykel, Dominic Dellweg
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-12-01
Series:Journal of Medical Case Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-024-04962-w
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author Christoph Müller
Ingo Stricker
Peter Hykel
Dominic Dellweg
author_facet Christoph Müller
Ingo Stricker
Peter Hykel
Dominic Dellweg
author_sort Christoph Müller
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Yellow nail syndrome is characterized by a yellow discoloration of the nails, respiratory symptoms, and lymphedema. It was first described in 1964 and has an estimated prevalence of less than 1:1.000.000. Despite its diverse manifestations affecting different organ systems and a wide range of associated diseases, yellow nail syndrome is most commonly related to impaired lymphatic drainage. The treatment depends on whether the underlying pathology can be identified and includes dietary, pharmacological, interventional, and surgical approaches. Case presentation We report the case of a 73-year-old Caucasian male patient presenting with exertional shortness of breath and orthopnea, nonpitting edema of his distal extremities, and yellow discoloration of both his finger and toe nails. The diagnostic workup, which included the drainage of a large chylous pleural effusion, computed tomography of the chest, and lymphangiography, led to the diagnosis of yellow nail syndrome, presumably caused by a mediastinal lipoma compressing the thoracic duct. Treatment-wise, a percutaneous lymphatic embolization was performed after conservative treatment did not lead to a significant improvement of symptoms. Conclusion While demonstrating the specific diagnostic findings of this case, we try to point out common pathogenetic aspects of the disorder and present the currently available treatment options.
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spelling doaj-art-8d6ac28cbea743298a0aa5dc7f98ce002024-12-15T12:09:10ZengBMCJournal of Medical Case Reports1752-19472024-12-011811510.1186/s13256-024-04962-wYellow nail syndrome linked to a mediastinal lipoma: a case reportChristoph Müller0Ingo Stricker1Peter Hykel2Dominic Dellweg3Research, Philipps University of MarburgInstitute of Pathology, Ruhr University BochumDepartment of Pulmonology, Fachkrankenhaus Kloter GrafschaftDepartment of Pulmonology, Pius-Hospital Carl Von Ossietzky UniversityAbstract Background Yellow nail syndrome is characterized by a yellow discoloration of the nails, respiratory symptoms, and lymphedema. It was first described in 1964 and has an estimated prevalence of less than 1:1.000.000. Despite its diverse manifestations affecting different organ systems and a wide range of associated diseases, yellow nail syndrome is most commonly related to impaired lymphatic drainage. The treatment depends on whether the underlying pathology can be identified and includes dietary, pharmacological, interventional, and surgical approaches. Case presentation We report the case of a 73-year-old Caucasian male patient presenting with exertional shortness of breath and orthopnea, nonpitting edema of his distal extremities, and yellow discoloration of both his finger and toe nails. The diagnostic workup, which included the drainage of a large chylous pleural effusion, computed tomography of the chest, and lymphangiography, led to the diagnosis of yellow nail syndrome, presumably caused by a mediastinal lipoma compressing the thoracic duct. Treatment-wise, a percutaneous lymphatic embolization was performed after conservative treatment did not lead to a significant improvement of symptoms. Conclusion While demonstrating the specific diagnostic findings of this case, we try to point out common pathogenetic aspects of the disorder and present the currently available treatment options.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-024-04962-wYellow nail syndromeChylothoraxThoracic ductLymphatic drainage
spellingShingle Christoph Müller
Ingo Stricker
Peter Hykel
Dominic Dellweg
Yellow nail syndrome linked to a mediastinal lipoma: a case report
Journal of Medical Case Reports
Yellow nail syndrome
Chylothorax
Thoracic duct
Lymphatic drainage
title Yellow nail syndrome linked to a mediastinal lipoma: a case report
title_full Yellow nail syndrome linked to a mediastinal lipoma: a case report
title_fullStr Yellow nail syndrome linked to a mediastinal lipoma: a case report
title_full_unstemmed Yellow nail syndrome linked to a mediastinal lipoma: a case report
title_short Yellow nail syndrome linked to a mediastinal lipoma: a case report
title_sort yellow nail syndrome linked to a mediastinal lipoma a case report
topic Yellow nail syndrome
Chylothorax
Thoracic duct
Lymphatic drainage
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-024-04962-w
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AT peterhykel yellownailsyndromelinkedtoamediastinallipomaacasereport
AT dominicdellweg yellownailsyndromelinkedtoamediastinallipomaacasereport