A case of rheumatoid pneumoconiosis (Caplan' s syndrome) with pneumothorax due to rupture of a pulmonary rheumatoid nodule

Abstract

A 65-year-old man with a 9-year history of articular rheumatism complained of cough and chest pain. He was referred to our hospital with a diagnosis of left pneumothorax. Chest CT scan showed left pneumothorax and a 3-cm nodular shadow with cavitation in the left S6. He underwent video-assisted thoracic surgery. The nodule with cavitation in the left S6 was excised. The histopathology of the excised nodule showed the typical features of a rheumatoid nodule.