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Primitive squamous-cell carcinoma after extrapleural pneumothorax for active tuberculosis
1Thoracic Surgery Department, University of Torino, Torino, Italy. caterina.casadio@unito.it
Summary
A rare case of squamous cell carcinoma was found within an extrapleural pneumothorax, initially misdiagnosed as tuberculosis. Surgical intervention revealed the unexpected tumor, highlighting diagnostic challenges in pleural disease.
Area of Science:
- Thoracic surgery
- Oncology
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Extrapleural pneumothorax was historically used for tuberculosis treatment.
- Diagnostic challenges arise when pleural effusions present atypically.
Observation:
- A patient with active tuberculosis initially diagnosed with tubercular empyema.
- A right axillary thoracostomy was performed for a large pleural effusion.
Findings:
- Surgical biopsy of the extrapleural sac revealed both normal epidermis and well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma.
- The carcinoma's origin is unclear, possibly from epidermis introduced during therapeutic pneumothorax refills.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of thorough histopathological examination for unusual pleural findings.
- It highlights potential rare complications associated with historical therapeutic pneumothorax procedures.
- Further research into the etiology of such rare tumor occurrences in pleural spaces is warranted.