CTICasesSpontaneous Pneumothorax and Obstructive Pneumonia due to Small Cell Carcinoma
▶ Watch on YouTube — age-restricted, cannot embed here
Imaging findings
Initial radiograph shows a large left pneumothorax and collapsed, dense consolidation of the left lung. Subsequent radiographs after drain insertion show incomplete lung re-expansion with persistent consolidation. Non-contrast CT reveals a filling defect (secretions/mass) in the left bronchus, consolidated left lung, and emphysema with subpleural bullae. Bronchoscopy revealed a circumferential obstructing mass in the left bronchus and pus in the airways. Transbronchial biopsy confirmed small cell carcinoma.
Key takeaways
Small cell carcinoma can present unusually as a spontaneous pneumothorax, likely secondary to obstructive pneumonia and/or rupture of bullae in a smoker. The mass itself can be infiltrative and difficult to clearly delineate on CT, often presenting with secondary findings of obstruction and air leak.
AI-assisted summary — may contain errors. Verify against the source video. Learn more
More from this webinar
- Neurofibromatosis with Ruptured Intercostal Artery AneurysmsCongenital
- Massive Ascending Aortic Aneurysm due to Healed Non-specific VasculitisVascular
- Ruptured Sinus of Valsalva Aneurysm with Anomalous Septal Course of Left Main Coronary ArteryCongenital
- Diffuse Idiopathic Pulmonary Neuroendocrine Cell Hyperplasia (DIPNECH) with Carcinoid TumorsNeoplastic
- Perimembranous Ventricular Septal Defect as a Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) ComplicationIatrogenic
- Primary Cardiac Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma of the Left VentricleNeoplastic
- Burned Out Extramedullary Hematopoiesis with Fatty Replacement in Beta ThalassemiaMetabolic
- Luxatio Erecta (Inferior Glenohumeral Dislocation)Trauma
See all cases from September 20, 2014 →
Related Neoplastic cases
- Intraventricular Metastasis from Liposarcoma with LV Outflow Tract Obstruction
- Benign Metastasizing Leiomyoma
- Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Paralysis (Hoarseness) due to Lung Mass and Lymphadenopathy
- Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Paralysis (Hoarseness) due to Small Cell Lung Cancer
- Crystal-Storing Histiocytoma
- Tracheal Leiomyosarcoma