Spontaneous pneumothorax in malignancy: a case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Background: Pneumothorax occurring in the absence of obvious lung disease is defined as spontaneous pneumothorax. Spontaneous pneumothorax occurs in a variety of settings in patients with malignancies.

Patients and methods: We present a case report of spontaneous pneumothorax in malignancy and review the literature.

Results: No correlation was found between the occurrence of pneumothorax with age, sex or smoking history. Pneumothorax occurred with a variety of primary tumors. However it was always associated with lung metastases or lung involvement with tumor. In certain cases the metastases were detected after the occurrence of pneumothorax.

Conclusions: The occurrence of pneumothorax in a patient with malignancy should prompt a search for lung metastases.