[Bronchiolo-alveolar cell carcinoma of the lung presenting as spontaneous pneumothorax].
A 30-year old man visited a local clinic complaining of dyspnea and chest pain. He had a history of hepatocystadenocarcinoma 10 years before. Pneumothorax was diagnosed. Immediately, the patient was referred to us and underwent a tube thoracostomy. Cytologic examination of pleural effusion specimens revealed malignant cells. Because pleural drainage and pleurodesis using anti-cancer agents were not effective, we performed a thoracotomy. A tumor with accompanying bulla was detected in the right S6 region and a right lower lobectomy was performed. Histologic examination of tumor specimens disclosed bronchiolo-alveolar cell carcinoma. We speculated that bullae formed by tumor invasion, had burst, resulting in pneumothorax. This was a case of asynchronous double cancer in a relatively young patient, and the first report in Japan of bronchiolo-alveolar cell carcinoma presenting with spontaneous pneumothorax as an initial symptom.
Tanaka
M
M
Division of Internal Medicine, Kure Kyosai Hospital, 2-3-28 Nishichuou Kure, Hiroshima, Japan.
Hiyama
J
J
Hiraki
A
A
Ueoka
H
H
Kanazawa
K
K
Marukawa
M
M
Shiota
Y
Y
D002282:Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology*