A case of thoracolithiasis diagnosed thoracoscopically.
BACKGROUND
Thoracolithiasis is quite rare with only 18 cases reported in the literature.


METHODS
The 65-year-old female was referred to us for the abnormality on the chest X-ray. The serial computed tomographic (CT) scans showed a mobile calcified nodule of about 10mm in diameter. Exploratory thoracoscopy was performed. A 15mm pearl-like pleural stone was removed with uneventful postoperative course.


CONCLUSIONS
Thoracolithiasis is very rare, and its etiology as well as its epidemiology still remains to be unclear. Preoperative diagnosis is always difficult. However, specific radiological findings could let us recognize the probability of that lesion and avoid unnecessary major operation.


CONCLUSIONS
Thoracolithiasis should never be overlooked as a differential diagnosis in a pulmonary calcified nodule.
Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Nagara Medical Center, Gifu, Japan.
Teruya
T
Komatsu
Terumasa
T
Sowa
Takuji
T
Fujinaga