[Excision of a chronic expanding hematoma developing after thoracoplasty: a case report]

The patient was a 56-year-old woman who had undergone thoracoplasty for right pulmonary tuberculosis 31 years previously. She consulted her local physician complaining of right shoulder pain. Chest X-rays revealed a mass of the thoracic wall, and the patient was referred to our department. Because of the difficulty in making a diagnosis by needle biopsy and of increased pain, operation was done. The mass was covered by a fibrous capsule, and its center was composed of structure-less material including fibrin and blood cells. A diagnosis of chronic expanding hematoma developing after thoracoplasty was made. Beneath the hematoma, a 5 mm diameter hole communicated with the thoracic cavity. Chronic inflammation at this site appeared to have caused the hematoma.