title: Mediastinal emphysema and small cell lung cancer (SCLC): a case-report.
abstract: We present a case of a 59-year-old man with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) who developed heavy thoracic pain because of spontaneous mediastinal emphysema. Autopsy documented a mucosal lesion in the posterior tracheal wall with air leak towards the mediastinum. The occurrence of spontaneous mediastinal emphysema in patients with small cell lung cancer has rarely been described in the literature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonology, Respiratory Oncology Unit, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Catholic University Leuven, Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Libeer
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Verbeken
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: De Wever
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vansteenkiste
authors.forename: Kristiaan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nackaerts
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001344:Autopsy; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000150:complications*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008478:Mediastinal Emphysema / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology