1.Pathological pulmonary hernia in a patient with metastatic breast cancer.
Aleksandra PIRJAVEC ; Ileana LULIC ; Ivor KOVIC ; Marko ZELIC
Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore 2008;37(3):234-235
INTRODUCTIONPathological pulmonary hernia is a rare clinical entity which can be caused by malignancies.
CLINICAL PICTUREA 72-year-old female presented with a painful bulge in the left 4th intercostal space. Chest radiography and computed tomography demonstrated a left pulmonary hernia, pleural effusion and destruction of ribs.
TREATMENTThe hernia sac was excised and a part of the chest wall was resected with reconstruction of residual defect.
OUTCOMEThe patient died 2 years after the treatment.
CONCLUSIONSA multidisciplinary approach involving various medical specialists may offer patients with pathological pulmonary hernia remarkable palliation and better quality of life.
Aged ; Breast Neoplasms ; complications ; pathology ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; complications ; secondary ; Female ; Hernia ; etiology ; Herniorrhaphy ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; etiology ; surgery ; Mastectomy ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Thoracic Neoplasms ; complications ; secondary