Successful Two-Stage Surgical Treatment for Lung Cancer in a Patient with Contralateral Giant Emphysematous Bullae

Yuji Hirami, Katsuhiko Shimizu, Riki Okita, Shinsuke Saisho, Takuro Yukawa, Ai Maeda, Kouichiro Yasuda, Masao Nakata

Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Kawasaki Medical School, Okayama, Japan.
Okita Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Kawasaki Medical School, Okayama, Japan.

DOI: 10.4236/ojts.2012.24027                

Abstract

A 67-year-old man was referred for further evaluation of an abnormal chest roentgenogram. Computed tomography showed a 40 × 30 mm mass in the left upper lobe. A giant bulla occupying about two-thirds of the right thorax was found compressing the adjacent lung parenchyma, shifting the mediastinum to the left. The mass was a primary lung cancer, clinical T2aN0M0, stage IB. Preoperative respiratory function evaluation showed poor pulmonary function, with a forced expiratory volume in 1 second of 1070 ml (29.2% of predicted). Therefore, we first performed giant bullectomy by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. At 1 month after this operation, improvement of the forced expiratory volume in 1 second significantly to 2140 ml (80.1% of predicted) was observed. Therefore, we performed resection for the tumor. He was discharged after an uneventful postoperative course, and has remained in good condition for 6 months after the operation.

Keywords

Giant Emphysematous Bulla; Pulmonary Function; Bullectmy; Lung-Cancer; Surgery

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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