title: Pneumomastia: a rare cause of breast swelling.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pneumomastia is air within the breast parenchyma. A number of causes have been reported for this condition. This case report describes a new cause and details of the management strategy applied, together with a review of the literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe a case of acute breast swelling in a 40-year-old woman and its subsequent successful conservative management.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bronchopleural fistula after thoracotomy is a risk, and can cause pneumomastia. This is more likely to occur after redo thoracic surgery. Pneumomastia after repeat thoracotomy can be managed conservatively, even in the presence of a bronchopleural fistula.
authors.affiliation: Department of Breast and General Surgery, Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle, Cumbria, UK.
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kipling
authors.affiliation: Department of Breast and General Surgery, Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle, Cumbria, UK.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Christou
authors.affiliation: Department of Breast and General Surgery, Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle, Cumbria, UK.
authors.forename: Ludger
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barthelmes
keywords: Breast; Bronchopleural fistula; Emphysema; Pneumomastia; Thoracotomy