A Single Thorax (Buffalo Chest)

A-59-year old man was admitted to the hospital with a 2-month history of the right pleuritic chest discomfort and mild dyspnea. Seven years earlier, he was operated on left pneumonectomy for squamous cell carcinoma of left upper lobe (Stage IIb, T2N1M0). The computed tomographic scan revealed an anterior herniation of the right lung in the left hemithorax. A single thorax after receiving pneumonectomy is called a “buffalo chest” because the absence of an anatomical separation of the two hemithoraxes resembles that of the North American buffalo or bison. A possible pneumothorax should be catastrophic for the patient, so he should be closely monitored regarding any invasive procedure or trauma. He improved after symptomatic treatment.(Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 2004, 56:321-323)

keywords: Pneumonectomy, Single thorax.

Reference

(1933) Successful removal of an entire lung for carcinoma of the bronꠀchus,

(1996) Postpneumonectomy syndrome with an ipsilateral aortic arch after left pneumonectomy,

(1993) Expandable prosthesis in right postpneumonectomy syndꠀrome in childhood and adolescence,

(2003) Images in clinical medicine.Buffalo chest,

바로가기메뉴

Article Contents

Vol.56 No.3

A Single Thorax (Buffalo Chest)

Abstract

Reference

Tuberculosis & Respiratory Diseases