Chemotherapy Associated Bilateral Secondary Spontaneous Pneumothorax

Cureus. 2022 Aug 27;14(8):e28478. doi: 10.7759/cureus.28478. eCollection 2022 Aug.

Abstract

Chemotherapy-associated pneumothorax is a rarely encountered oncological emergency. Herein, we present a rare chemotherapy-associated bilateral secondary spontaneous pneumothorax case of a man in his 60s with invasive breast carcinoma after four cycles of chemotherapy. He presented to our emergency department with acute onset dyspnea and left-sided pleuritic chest pain. A chest X-ray showed a left-sided pneumothorax, and an intercostal chest tube (ICT) was inserted with underwater seal drainage. After three days, he complained of sudden onset right-sided chest pain and increased dyspnea. A repeat chest X-ray revealed right-sided pneumothorax, which was managed with ICT again. Bilateral pleurodesis was done after a repeat chest x-ray showed complete lung re-expansion. The patient was doing well with no recurrence of pneumothorax after three months of follow-up. Male breast cancer is uncommon, and presentation with bilateral secondary spontaneous pneumothorax is rare. This case is reported as a rare complication of chemotherapy-associated bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax.

Keywords: bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax; breast carcinoma; chemotherapy-related toxicity; lung metastasis; oncology.

Publication types

  • Case Reports