Spontaneous Hemothorax in a Patient With Neurofibromatosis Type 1 and Undiagnosed Pheochromocytoma

• Published in: The Annals of thoracic surgery Vol. 84; no. 3; pp. 1021 - 1023
• Main Authors: Conlon, Niamh P., FCARCSI, Redmond, Karen C., MD, FRCS(CTh), Celi, Leo A., MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.09.2007; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adrenal Gland Neoplasms - complications; Adult; Aneurysm, Ruptured - complications; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiothoracic Surgery; Hemothorax - etiology; Humans; Male; Mammary Arteries; Medical sciences; Neurofibromatosis 1 - complications; Neurology; Pheochromocytoma - complications; Pneumology; Respiratory system : syndromes and miscellaneous diseases; Surgery; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the heart; Surgery of the respiratory system; Tumors of the nervous system. Phacomatoses; 13; Endocrinopathy; Human; Skin disease; Nervous system diseases; Pheochromocytoma; Phacomatosis; Respiratory disease; Spontaneous; Patient; Thorax; Neurofibromatosis Recklinghausen; Genetic disease; Secretory tumor; Treatment; Surgery; Hemothorax; Pleural disease; Benign neoplasm
• ISSN: 0003-4975; 1552-6259
• DOI: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2007.04.024

Spontaneous hemothorax in neurofibromatosis type 1 rarely occurs, is potentially life-threatening, and requires expedient management. We present a case of massive hemothorax in a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1 caused by spontaneous rupture of the right internal mammary artery. A subsequently diagnosed underlying pheochromocytoma may be implicated in rupture of the arterial wall.