[Curative surgery for lung cancer invading the aorta with bilateral emphysematous giant bullae: a case report]

A 56-year-old male patient who had been suffered from giant emphysematous bullae in both lungs was referred to our hospital because of newly developing left lung abnormal shadow, which was adjacent to the aorta on chest X-ray. Lung cancer invading the aorta was suspected on CT scanning and curative operation was scheduled. At left thoracotomy there were large bullae in the upper lobe, part of which covered on and stuck to the tumor mass on the aortic wall. We performed left upper lobectomy, combined with the partial resection of the aortic wall and repaired it with dacron patch using partial extracorporeal circulation with cannulations into the main pulmonary artery and the descending aorta. Pathological diagnosis was large cell carcinoma. Lung cancer invading the aorta can be safely excised using assisting circulatory devices such as extracorporeal circulation. We expect this type of operation will be widely accepted and make better results.