Radiotherapy for Lung Cancer: An Unrecognized Cause of Lung Torsion

Lung torsion is an exceptional occurrence, usually requiring urgent surgery because of vascular compromise. Because of the rarity and non-specific symptoms, it often requires clinicians to have a high degree of suspicion to make an early diagnosis of lung torsion. Here we present a unique case of lung torsion. The patient was a 73-year-old lady who was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the lung. She was treated with radiotherapy, which resulted in complete remission. However, her follow-up imaging showed torsion of the right lung. Given her lack of clinical symptoms, she was managed conservatively. This is a unique case and possibly the first reported case of lung torsion following radiotherapy. The exact mechanism through which radiotherapy causes lung torsion remains unclear and may be addressed by future research.