S Srinivas1, G Varadhachary. 1. Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Palo Alto, California 94304, USA. srinivas@icon.palo-alto.med.va.gov
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Pneumothorax occurring in the absence of obvious lung disease is defined as spontaneous pneumothorax. Spontaneous pneumothorax occurs in a variety of settings in patients with malignancies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We present a case report of spontaneous pneumothorax in malignancy and review the literature. RESULTS: No correlation was found between the occurrence of pneumothorax with age, sex or smoking history. Pneumothorax occurred with a variety of primary tumors. However it was always associated with lung metastases or lung involvement with tumor. In certain cases the metastases were detected after the occurrence of pneumothorax. CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of pneumothorax in a patient with malignancy should prompt a search for lung metastases.
BACKGROUND: Pneumothorax occurring in the absence of obvious lung disease is defined as spontaneous pneumothorax. Spontaneous pneumothorax occurs in a variety of settings in patients with malignancies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We present a case report of spontaneous pneumothorax in malignancy and review the literature. RESULTS: No correlation was found between the occurrence of pneumothorax with age, sex or smoking history. Pneumothorax occurred with a variety of primary tumors. However it was always associated with lung metastases or lung involvement with tumor. In certain cases the metastases were detected after the occurrence of pneumothorax. CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of pneumothorax in a patient with malignancy should prompt a search for lung metastases.