2010 Volume 24 Issue 2 Pages 140-145
Transient pulmonary infiltration appeared in five cases following lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection. In each case, a chest radiograph showed an interstitial shadow in the residual lung on the operative side within two weeks after the operation. Chest computed tomography revealed interlobular septal thickening at the dorsal and supradiaphragmatic portions of the residual lung only on the operative side. We performed chest computed tomography after conversion of the body position in one of the five cases; the shadow moved downward due to gravity. We thought that the interstitial shadow was “pulmonary lymphedema” due to the congestion of lymph flow. The patients had no respiratory symptoms, and the shadow disappeared without any treatment in five months in all cases. We suggest that “pulmonary lymphedema”, which is identified as a transient interstitial shadow, disappears without any treatment.
