Surgical treatment of a case of von Recklinghausen's disease with hemothorax in transition to chronic empyema.

Abstract

We encountered a rare case of von Recklinghausen's disease with hemothorax. A 51-year-old male with von Recklinghausen's disease consulted us for chest discomfort. A chest roentgenogram revealed left pleural effusion, and he was admitted to our hospital. Pleural fluid aspiration revealed blood in transition to an empyema. The cause of the hemothorax and its association with neurofibromatosis were not diagnosed preoperatively. His left lung function was extremely poor and no tumor could be seen intraoperatively. Therefore, left panpleuropneumonectomy was performed. He has been asymptomatic for 30 months after the operation. We have observed the patient extremely carefully because of the risk of rebleeding.