Spontaneous pneumothorax as the first sign of pulmonary carcinoma

We report five cases of spontaneous pneumothorax as the first sign of pulmonary carcinoma. Initial tests did not detect neoplasms. Diagnosis took place during surgery for four patients and the fifth was diagnosed by preoperative computed tomography to assess pulmonary bullous emphysema. All five pat...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Archivos de bronconeumología 2001-10, Vol.37 (9), p.397-400
Main Authors: Galbis Caravajal, J M, Mafé Madueño, J J, Baschwitz Gómez, B, Pérez Carbonell, A, Rodríguez Paniagua, J M
Format: Article
Language:Spanish
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Humans
Lung Neoplasms - complications
Lung Neoplasms - diagnosis
Male
Middle Aged
Pneumothorax - etiology
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:We report five cases of spontaneous pneumothorax as the first sign of pulmonary carcinoma. Initial tests did not detect neoplasms. Diagnosis took place during surgery for four patients and the fifth was diagnosed by preoperative computed tomography to assess pulmonary bullous emphysema. All five patients had persistent air leaks in spite of correct placement and functioning of drains, the reason for which surgery was scheduled. Three segmentectomies, one lobectomy and one exploratory thoracotomy for pleural metastasis were performed. Histopathologic diagnoses were 3 giant cell tumors, 1 adenocarcinoma and 1 non-mucinous bronchoalveolar carcinoma. We think that when risk factors are present, the existence of unresolved pneumothorax after correct placement of a drain should lead to a suspicion of associated pulmonary carcinoma.
ISSN:0300-2896
DOI:10.1016/S0300-2896(01)78822-9