Apical parietal pleural holes: what are they?
We report the incidental discovery of an apical pleural abnormality characterized by the presence of pleural holes during video-thoracoscopic surgery for upper limb hyperhidrosis. Patients were 4 males and one female with a median age of 24 years. These pleural anomalies were left sided in all cases with a maximum diameter of 5 mm. One of the defects was double. There was neither air leakage nor water leakage after irrigation. Our hypothesis is that the revealed pleural defect is a precursor of cervical lung hernia.
Division of Thoracic Surgery, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy. mimgaletta@yahoo.com
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Galetta
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Serra
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Gossot
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006945:Hyperhidrosis / Q000601:surgery; D033162:Incidental Findings; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D008297:Male; D010994:Pleura / Q000002:abnormalities*; D011379:Prognosis; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult