[Reexpansion pulmonary edema after removal of a huge localized mesothelioma]

A 70-year-old female with hypoglycemia was admitted to our hospital for progressive dyspnea. In chest X-ray film, a mass occupied two thirds of the left hemi-thorax followed by the right shift of the mediastinum. Thoracotomy revealed that a huge tumor grew from the left upper lobe and the diaphragm without invasion. The resected tumor was 2550 g in weight. Histological diagnosis was benign fibrous mesothelioma. A large amount of expectoration started soon after the resection of the tumor. Measurement of protein in tracheal fluid and serum revealed that the event resulted from the reexpansion of the left lung after the huge mass removal. The patient recovered from pulmonary edema followed by steroid administration and respiratory management. We consider that it is useful to measure the protein in tracheal fluid and serum for diagnosis of reexpansion pulmonary edema.