Open AccessSpontaneous hemothorax associated with neurofibromatosis type I: A review of the literature
Author(s) -
Swaroopa Pulivarthi,
Byron Simmons,
John Shearen,
Murali Krishna Gurram
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of neurosciences in rural practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.331
H-Index - 22
eISSN - 0976-3147
pISSN - 0976-3155
DOI - 10.4103/0976-3147.133592
Subject(s) - hemothorax , medicine , neurofibromatosis , thoracentesis , neurofibroma , surgery , neurofibromatosis type i , radiological weapon , radiology , pleural effusion , pneumothorax
Neurofibromatosis is generally a benign disease, but has the potential for rare and fatal complications, such as spontaneous hemothorax. We report a case of massive hemothorax due to neurofibroma in a 49-year-old woman with neurofibromatosis type 1. The configuration of the radiological opacity and frank blood withdrawn on thoracentesis should suggest the diagnosis of hemothorax in a patient with neurofibromatosis. Surgical treatment for hemothorax is limited by arterial fragility and the prognosis is relatively poor. Any evidence of aneurysmal disease in the thoracic vessels should be aggressively managed percutaneously by coil embolization to prevent future rupture.