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Case Reports
. 2021 Feb 7;13(2):e13205.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.13205.

Recurrent Spontaneous Pneumothorax Associated With Marijuana Abuse: Case Report and Literature Review

Nouraldeen Manasrah  1 , Ali F Al Sbihi  1 , Sarah Al Qasem  2 , Rohan Naik  3 , Malitha Hettiarachchi  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Recurrent Spontaneous Pneumothorax Associated With Marijuana Abuse: Case Report and Literature Review

Nouraldeen Manasrah et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit recreational drug in the United States. Growing public support for marijuana law reform has resulted in a significant increase in its use. The harmful pulmonary consequences of chronic marijuana smoking are less researched and discussed than those of tobacco smoking. We present a case of recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax in a patient with heavy, persistent marijuana abuse who has no past medical or surgical histories and denied smoking cigarettes or other illicit substance use.

Keywords: emphysematous bullae; marijuana abuse; pneumothorax (ptx).

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Chest x-ray (CXR) shows large right-sided pneumothorax with a complete collapse of the right lung.
Figure 2
Figure 2. CT-thorax shows large right-sided pneumothorax with several small pleural blebs at the right apex and margin of the right upper lobe.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Histopathology: intraparenchymal hemorrhage and chronic inflammation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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