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Case Reports
. 2021 Jul-Sep;47(3):466-468.
doi: 10.12865/CHSJ.47.03.21. Epub 2021 Sep 30.

Subcutaneous Emphysema as a Life-Threatening Complication of Metastatic Renal Cancer: A Case Report

Edoardo Gambuti  1 , Franco Alfano  1 , Fabio Fabbian  1 , Benedetta Perna  1 , Matteo Guarino  1 , Roberto DE Giorgio  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Subcutaneous Emphysema as a Life-Threatening Complication of Metastatic Renal Cancer: A Case Report

Edoardo Gambuti et al. Curr Health Sci J. 2021 Jul-Sep.

Abstract

Subcutaneous emphysema (SE) could present as an emergency situation requiring appropriate management because of possible serious complications. While the diagnosis can be well established, its classification and treatment are not yet standardized. Herein we report the case of SE occurred in a young man after positioning of a thorax drainage because of a hydro-pneumothorax developed as a consequence of pulmonary metastases from clear cell renal carcinoma. Since there are no data correlating anatomo-clinical categorization with outcome and treatment of patients with SE, a "tailored- treatment" may be considered.

Keywords: Hydro-pneumothorax; frail patient; metastatic clear cell renal cancer; subcutaneous drains; subcutaneous emphysema.

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Conflict of interest statement

None to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Chest CT scan showing SE of the upper thorax (A). The point of anchorage defect of thorax drainage causing a communication between the pleural cavity and soft tissue is indicated by the white arrow in image B
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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