A Case of Bronchiolitis Obliterans Organizing Pneumonia After Thoracotomy.
- Author:
Kyoung Jun WON
1
;
Jong Ho PARK
;
Hee Jong BAEK
;
Hyang Lim LEE
;
Jae Ill ZO
Author Information
1. Departament of Thoracic Surgery, Korea Cancer Center Hospital, Korea.
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing
- MeSH:
Biopsy;
Bronchiolitis Obliterans*;
Bronchiolitis*;
Cough;
Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia*;
Diagnosis;
Dyspnea;
Esophageal Neoplasms;
Fever;
Humans;
Lung;
Pathology;
Respiratory Insufficiency;
Thoracotomy*;
Thorax;
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
- From:The Korean Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
1997;30(10):1040-1043
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
We report a patient who suffered from bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia(BOOP) after Ivor Lewis operation for esophageal cancer. The patient presented low grade fever, dry cough and mild dyspnea at 4 day after operation. Chest roentgenograms and chest CT revealed bilateral patchy and infiltrative shadows. The respiratory symptoms worsened and respiratory failure developed with mild elevation of WBC count despite of conservative treatment. An open lung biopsy was done and the biopsy specimen showed bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia(BOOP). After several weeks of steroid therapy, there were marked clinical, physiological and roentgenographic improvements. Our experience suggests that BOOP may be one of the underlying pathology in a number of patients presenting with ARDS after thoracotomy. Since steroid therapy may improve survival in these patients, thoracic surgeons should heighten their index of suspicion for this entity. Early histologic diagnosis should be considered in patients with treatment-resistant ARDS after thoracotomy.
