An older patient with bilateral non-traumatic haemothoraces

BMJ Case Rep. 2012 Mar 27:2012:bcr0120125527. doi: 10.1136/bcr.01.2012.5527.

Abstract

This is the case of a patient who presented with bilateral spontaneous haemothoraces. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery was performed bilaterally to evacuate the haemothorax and perform biopsies. The patient was diagnosed with bilateral malignant epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the pleura and pericardium. To our knowledge, this is the first description of bilateral malignant epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the pleura presenting with haemothoraces and without obvious pulmonary involvement. Malignant epithelioid hemangioendothelioma is a rare form of malignancy that can present with unilateral or bilateral haemothoraces.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Hemangioendothelioma, Epithelioid / complications*
  • Hemangioendothelioma, Epithelioid / diagnosis*
  • Hemangioendothelioma, Epithelioid / surgery
  • Hemothorax / diagnosis*
  • Hemothorax / etiology*
  • Hemothorax / surgery
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Thoracotomy
  • Tracheostomy