Bilateral dissemination of malignant pleural mesothelioma via iatrogenic buffalo chest: a rare route of disease progression

Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2012 Sep;60(9):595-8. doi: 10.1007/s11748-012-0053-z. Epub 2012 May 12.

Abstract

Buffalo chest refers to the pleuro-pleural communication that results in a single pleural cavity. Iatrogenic buffalo chest can occur following heart or heart-lung transplantation and other major thoracic surgeries. We present the case of malignant pleural mesothelioma in which iatrogenic buffalo chest after extended thymectomy caused bilateral pneumothoraces and contralateral dissemination of the disease. The free communication between bilateral pleural cavities had facilitated the rapid progression of tumor and the consequent bilateral malignant pleural effusions had made the management of disease much more difficult, leading to the early fatal outcome. To our knowledge, this is the first case of buffalo chest that was associated with bilateral malignant pleural effusions.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Disease Progression
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Iatrogenic Disease*
  • Male
  • Mesothelioma / complications
  • Mesothelioma / diagnostic imaging
  • Mesothelioma / secondary*
  • Mesothelioma / therapy
  • Pleural Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Pleural Diseases / etiology*
  • Pleural Effusion, Malignant / etiology
  • Pleural Neoplasms / complications
  • Pleural Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Pleural Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Pleural Neoplasms / therapy
  • Pneumothorax / etiology
  • Thymectomy / adverse effects*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome