Abstract
A 50-year-old woman had been receiving chemotherapy for stage IV breast cancer of the right breast with spinal metastasis since 2008. Since the start of therapy, her height had decreased by approximately 10 cm due to a compression fracture. In 2012, the patient noticed epigastric pain, and computed tomography (CT) showed prolapsed of the transverse colon and spleen from the posterior part of the left diaphragm into the thoracic cavity. An adult Bochdalek hernia was diagnosed, and surgery was performed. Reduction of the prolapsed organs into the abdominal cavity and mesh repair were performed laparoscopically, the patient was discharged on postoperative day 4, and chemotherapy was resumed promptly. No recurrence of hernia has been seen as of 12 months postoperatively. In the present patient, the vertebral compression fracture observed during breast cancer treatment may have increased intra-abdominal pressure and caused the hernia. The case of adult Bochdalek hernia caused by a compression fracture resulting from spinal metastasis of breast cancer in which laparoscopic repair was performed and chemotherapy could be promptly resumed is presented.
