A case of intrathoracic neurinoma appearing as hemothorax
Tanita, T.; Ohkuda, K.; Nitta, S.; Hashimoto, K.; Nakada, T.
Nihon Kyobu Shikkan Gakkai Zasshi 19(2): 127-130
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0301-1542 PMID: 6965221 Document Number: 175864
Rare cases of idiopathic hemothorax have been reported. A 29 yr-old male, complaining of left back pain, went into shock. His chest X-ray film showed opacity in his left lung field and the thoracenteses resulted in removal of 800 ml bloody effusion (hematocrit: 34%). One month later his left lung remained collapsed and pleural effusion was still bloody. He was transferred for surgical treatment. On admission, his vital capacity was 2260 ml, %FEV1-0 77%. Thoracotomy revealed the presence of 600 ml bloody pleural effusion and a well encapsulated tumor, spherical, 5 .times. 5 .times. 5 cm, around which thickened parietal and visceral pleura were recognized. The tumor was near the aorta in the 5th intercostal space, and had a stalk which arose from the 5th intercostal nerve. A small amount of bleeding from the stalk was recognized. The tumor was excised; it weighed 250 g, at the stalk and found an artery 1 mm in diameter. No other bleeding foci were present in the chest cavity. Histological examination of the tumor yielded a diagnosis of neurinoma. Extirpation of the tumor and decortication resulted in fairly good re-expansion of the left lung. Thirty days postoperatively the vital capacity, %FEV1.0 and other lung functions improved.