title: Bilateral recurrent pneumothorax complicating chemotherapy for pulmonary metastatic breast ductal carcinoma: report of a case.
abstract: Secondary spontaneous pneumothorax (SSP) is a rare complication of chemotherapy for pulmonary metastases and to the best of our knowledge, only 28 cases have been described, most of which occurred in patients with osteosarcoma or germ cell tumors. We present herein the case of a 56-year-old woman in whom bilateral and recurrent SSP was caused by the rupture of pulmonary lacunae induced by chemotherapy, given for bilateral lung metastases secondary to breast carcinoma. Our experience of this case led us to conclude that: patients with pulmonary metastases may develop bilateral and/or recurrent pneumothoraces following chemotherapy; computed tomography scan is essential for defining the cause of SSP; and closed chest tube drainage remains the therapy of choice, while chemical pleurodesis may also be used to prevent recidivant SSP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Anaesthesiological Sciences, Section of General and Thoracic Surgery, University of Bologna, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zompatori
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ansaloni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grazia
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stella
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bazzocchi
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008942:Mitoxantrone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016685:Mitomycin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D008942:Mitoxantrone; D005472:Fluorouracil; D008727:Methotrexate