A Patient with Lung Adenocarcinoma Accompanied by Whole Right Lung Torsion Induced by the Accumulation of a Large Amount of Pleural Effusion

Abstract

A 68-year-old man visited a physician with a chief complaint of difficulty breathing. Right pleural effusion was noted, and he was referred to our department for a close examination and treatment. Thoracoscopy was performed under local anesthesia, and pleural dissemination of lung adenocarcinoma was noted, so a chest drain was placed. Since poor right lung inflation persisted and whole right lung torsion was observed on computed tomography, thoracoscopy-assisted thoracotomic reduction of lung torsion was performed. In this patient, the right middle lobe and anterior chest wall were adhered, suggesting that whole right lung torsion occurred when atelectasis was formed due to pleural effusion.