title: Spontaneous pneumothorax in primary cavitating lung carcinoma.
abstract: Primary cavitating lung carcinomas have not previously been described with spontaneous pneumothorax as the presenting manifestation. Two patients whose pneumothoraces resulted in the initial diagnosis of a primary cavitary lung carcinoma are described. Pathologic evidence of vascular invasion suggests tumor necrosis with secondary rupture into the pleural space as a likely mechanism for pneumothorax.
mesh_terms: D002277:Carcinoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D011859:Radiography