2003 Volume 17 Issue 7 Pages 798-802
A 27-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of bilateral pneumothorax. She had been diagnosed with tuberous sclerosis at 5 years old. Chest CT showed diffusely-scattered tiny nodules and thin-walled cysts present throughout both lung fields. Pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis and multifocal micronodular pneumocyte hyperplasia were diagnosed histopathologically by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. After operation, she developed recurrent pneumothorax bilaterally seven times, despite anti-hormone therapy. Reoperation by thoracoscopy using fibrin glue and absorbable mesh for newly-formed cyst was performed, and no signs of recurrence have been found.
This case of LAM and MMPH occurring in a patient with TS was extremely rare. It may be effective for this type of pneumothorax to apply an absorbable mesh with fibrin glue to decrease the postoperative recurrence rate.
