[A case of pyothorax-associated lymphoma treated by operation following radiation therapy]

A 70-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with complaints of right back to anterior chest pain and fever. He had a history of artificial pneumothorax for tuberculosis when he was 21 years old. The chest CT showed a partial thickness of right pleural cavity. The decortication and fenestration were performed for pyothorax, and a diagnosis of pyothorax-associated lymphoma (PAL) was obtained by pathological examination. After the surgery, chest CT revealed a rapid tumor growth in three months and suspicion of invasion to the ribs. After radiation therapy with a total dose of 40 Gy was performed, right pleuropneumonectomy was carried out. The tumor was not remained in the specimen. Postoperative chemotherapy was not performed. He lived for 5 years after the operation without recurrence. It is important to control local recurrence for PAL with the combined therapy of operation, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.