Transient thoracic duct obstruction in a patient with thoracic outlet syndrome

A 51-year-old woman with a thoracic outlet syndrome and vascular compression developed a transitory cervical and mediastinal lymphoedema after sleeping for a night with her arms raised and abducted. We hypothesize that this unusual complication was caused by a temporary obstruction of the thoracic duct at its junction with the venous system due to this sleeping position.