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Spontaneous torsion of the right upper lung lobe: a case report
Yusuke Kita1, Tetsuhiko Go2, Kazuhito Nii2
1Department of General Thoracic, Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Kagawa University Hospital, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki-cho, Kida-gun, Kagawa, 761-0793, Japan. sp4u5w69@yahoo.co.jp.
Background:
Pulmonary torsion is usually caused by thoracic surgery or trauma. Spontaneous pulmonary torsion caused by tumor and pleural effusion is very rare.
Case Presentation:
A 76-year-old Asian male with a chronic cough and suspected lung or pleural tumor presented with sudden dyspnea. Computed tomography showed that the right upper lung lobe contained a large tumor in the region of S1-3; the tumor had shifted to the posterior thoracic space and rotated 90° counterclockwise, potentially impeding blood flow. The patient underwent emergency right upper lobectomy for torsion of the right upper lung lobe. He recovered uneventfully and was discharged without complications.
Conclusions:
We experienced a rare case of spontaneous torsion of the right upper lung lobe caused by a large tumor and massive pleural effusion.
