Thoraco-pleuropneumonectomy for rupture of a huge chronic hematoma of the thorax.

A 67-year-old woman with a huge chronic expanding hematoma of the thorax due to previous tuberculous pleuritis was referred to our hospital with frequent hemoptysis. The hematoma had ruptured into the lung parenchyma. The patient had undergone apical thoracoplasty 40 years earlier. To provide complete resection of the huge cavity in the costodiaphragamatic recess, thoraco-pleuropneumonectomy was performed, and the patient was able to resume daily activities a few months after the operation.