Abstract
We report a case of lung cancer associated with substantial pleural effusion that developed after spinal tumor resection. A female patient, who had been diagnosed with bronchial asthma for 6 years, discontinued inhaled corticosteroid therapy because her symptoms had remitted. Chest computed tomography（CT）revealed a thoracic spinal tumor. Subsequently, she developed a gradual paralysis of her right lower limb, which prompted her to visit our hospital, where surgery for spinal tumor removal was scheduled. Preoperative CT scans conducted at our hospital revealed a lung nodule, suspected to be the primary cancer, in the left apex. However, chest X-ray examination and spirometry function tests were normal, and elective surgery was performed proceeded before lung investigation. The surgical procedure was successful. However, after awakening from anesthesia, hypoxic symptoms persisted. Postoperative chest radiography indicated reduced permeability of the entire left lung field, and chest CT found a considerable volume of left pleural fluid due to lung cancer. Respiratory lesions, such as pleural effusion, should be considered preoperatively if a patient with lung cancer, as in this case, is accompanied by persistent respiratory symptoms.
