1998 Volume 12 Issue 2 Pages 146-150
A 66-year old woman was admitted presenting with dyspnea and chest pain. She had a past history of artificial pneumothorax for pulmonary tuberculosis 41 years previously. Chest roentgenography showed a huge mass shadow with calcification in the left entire pleural space. Chest computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed that an encapsulated tumor with calcification compressed the esophagus, major vessels, trachea and contralateral side lung. Diagnostic thoracotomy and tumor extirpation with left pneumonectomy was performed. The histological diagnosis was not a malignancy but chronic expanding hematoma. The huge mass contained many hematomas resulted from repeated bleeding caused by respiratory motion and cough over a protracted period. It is very difficult to diagnose chronic expanding hematoma clinically. Surgery alone can improve symptoms and make a diagnosis of the CEH despite of potential complications such as massive bleeding.
