[A case of small adenocarcinoma of the lung with giant bullae]

A 52-year-old male underwent right upper lobectomy for giant bullae which involved almost half of thoracic cavity and covered over the right upper lobe. Postoperative histopathological examination revealed emphysematous bullae of right upper lobe and adenocarcinoma (6 mm in diameter) was found in the bullae wall under the pleura. Since there was no metastasis in bronchial lymph nodes of upper lobe, additional procedure for lymph node dissection was not performed. Patient has been healthy for eight years after operation and there is no evidence of recurrent tumor. It is difficult to define the small lesion of neoplasma with giant bullae of lung. Therefore, the patient involved with bullae may require preoperative and intraoperative attentive investigation for possible malignant lesions.