Pleural liposarcoma presenting with respiratory distress and suspected diaphragmatic hernia.

A young woman with a history of diaphragmatic hernia presented to the hospital in respiratory distress and in premature labor. Her admission chest roentgenogram showed opacification of the left hemithorax, and her arterial blood gas analysis revealed hypoxemia. Emergency cesarean section and exploratory left thoracotomy were carried out; a large tumor occupied the left side of the chest, and pneumonectomy was performed. No diaphragmatic hernia was present. A pathologic diagnosis of primary liposarcoma was made.