Chronic spontaneous pneumothorax due solely to a pleurovisceral membrane. A case report.
The case of a 28-year-old male with a neglected and protracted spontaneous pneumothorax is reported. The condition was diagnosed 45 days after the onset of symptoms. The affected lung had completely collapsed and was unexpandable. Subsequent thoracotomy revealed a firm membrane covering the visceral pleura as the sole explanation of the persistent pulmonary collapse. This variety of chronic pneumothorax seems to be rare. The lung expanded completely after decortication.
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010994:Pleura / Q000473:pathology; D010998:Pleurisy / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D011859:Radiography