Abstract
We have experienced two cases of enlarging rounded atelectasis which were resected for suspected malignancy. In both cases, chest x-ray films showed a tumor shadow in the lower lung field. Chest CT scans showed a pulmonary mass and pleural thickening with calcification in the basal segment. After taking wait-and-see approach, chest CT scans demon strated that the mass had enlarged. Because a possibility of a neoplasm could not be ruled out, operation was done. Intraoperative findings showed non-palpable tumor and extensive adhesions around the lower lobe. After lower lobectomy for definitive diagnosis, these two patients were diagnosed as having a rounded atelectasis from macroscopic and histopathological findings. One patient of them required long hospitalization because of postoperative bleeding and MRSA pneumonia. Rounded atelectasis is a benign disease. There are unusual cases of the disease which shows enlargement of the lesion due to chronic inflammation, for that we have difficulties in making differential diagnosis from malignancy. We present our two cases, together with some bibliographic comments in terms of intraoperative as well as imaging findings that might be crucial for the diagnosis.
