Squamous epithelial cancer in metaplastic pleura following extrapleural pneumothorax for pulmonary tuberculosis

During the period 1947-1955, 148 patients underwent extrapleural pneumolysis for pulmonary tuberculosis in Stockholm City Chest Hospital at Söderby. In 121 tuberculosis healed following operation. Ten of these later developed pain and a feeling of tension on the operated side and were operated upon with evacuation of the extrapleural sac. In four of them a highly differentiated keratinizing aquamous cell carcinoma had developed. In addition, two more cases of carinomas of the same type operated on at other hospitals are described. Five of the six patients died of cancer. Squamous cell carcinoma occurring in metaplastic mesothelial cells has hitherto not been reported on and the phenomenon is discussed and compared with the more common scar cancers within lung tissue caused by damage from tuberculosis.