CASE HISTORY

The patient died of cancer of the cervix. She had extensive spread through the pelvis and up along the aortic  lymph nodes. The tumour had spread into the cisterna chyli and thoracic duct and had caused extensive lymphatic obstruction. As a result of this malignant obstruction there was distension of intestinal lymphatics by chyle. This was seen in the upper part of the jejunum. 

PATHOLOGY

The specimen consists of two pieces of jejunum and the cisterna chyli and thoracic duct. The upper specimen of jejunum shows normal mucosa. The lower specimen has been mounted to show the peritoneal surface and numerous grossly dilated lymphatic channels are seen and they are distended by some cream-coloured  material. On the right-hand side of the specimen the thoracic duct is seen but its malignant infiltration is not really visible though it was palpable as hardness. Viewed from the back, the upper specimen again shows  distended lymphatics, this time close to the mesentery. The lower specimen looks normal.