A case of migrated thoracolithiasis

J Thorac Imaging. 2009 Nov;24(4):325-7. doi: 10.1097/RTI.0b013e3181c2f25d.

Abstract

A 66-year-old man was referred for evaluation of a "pulmonary nodule" found on a routine chest radiograph. Computed tomography detected a subpleural nodule of 13 mm in diameter between the upper and lower lobes of the right thoracic cavity. Follow-up chest radiograph and computed tomography after 9 months revealed migration and rotation along the right major fissure. Suspecting a pleural tumor, video-assisted thoracic surgery was performed, and a glossy white nodule of 13 x 11 mm in diameter was removed with forceps. Histopathologically, the nodule consisted of adipose and fatty necrotic tissue surrounded by hyalinized fibrous tissue. The diagnosis was thoracolithiasis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Lithiasis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Lithiasis / pathology
  • Lithiasis / surgery
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Thoracic Diseases / diagnostic imaging*
  • Thoracic Diseases / pathology
  • Thoracic Diseases / surgery
  • Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed*