Spontaneous Pneumothorax As a Presenting Feature of Primary Carcinoma of the Lung

¹ The Surgical Division, Montefiore Hospital and the Thoracic Surgical Service, Morrisania City Hospital.

Spontaneous pneumothorax may develop in the presence of a carcinoma of the lung as a result of rupture of a subpleural bleb in an area of obstructive emphysema as well as a result of invasion of the pleura by the malignancy. The former type of pneumothorax is rare. If such a pneumothorax occurs early in the disease, the picture may resemble that encountered in the benign or idiopathic variety. Lack of familiarity with this eventuality may cause unnecessary delay in arriving at a diagnosis. Pulmonary malignancy should be suspected if an individual of the cancer age develops spontaneous pneumothorax, especially if the latter is associated with a nonexpanding lung. The occurrence of spontaneous pneumothorax in a case of carcinoma of the lung does not preclude exploration and resection.