Lung Cancer Associated with Pulmonary Bulla

Abstract

A few reports have suggested the possible association between lung cancer and bullous disease. We report a surgical case of lung adenocarcinoma located in close proximity to pulmonary bullae. A 48-year-old nonsmoker, asymptomatic male was found to have a pulmonary tumor mass and giant bulla in the right lung. Thoracotomy identified a tumor arising from a firm, scarred and contracted area close to the bulla wall. Based on this report and review of other cases in the literature, we emphasize the need for physicians to be aware of the potential development of lung cancer in patients with pulmonary bulla.

Awake thoracoscopic bullaplasty

“…Among potential carcinogenic mechanisms, one is that air trapping and impaired ventilation of the bulla might facilitate deposition and long-lasting exposure of bulla walls to carcinogens [21]. If this is the case, our plication method virtually eliminates the poorly ventilated bulla volume, and should thus drastically reduce this risk.…”