Post-traumatic pulmonary pseudocyst with hemopneumothorax following blunt chest trauma: a case report

Abstract

IntroductionPost-traumatic pulmonary pseudocyst is an uncommon cavitary lesion of the lung and develops after blunt chest trauma and even more rarely following penetrating injuries. It is generally seen in young adults presenting with cough, chest pain, hemoptysis, and dyspnea. Post-traumatic pulmonary pseudocyst should be included in the differential diagnosis of cavitary pulmonary lesions. We describe the case of a 60-year-old Caucasian Greek woman who sustained traumatic pulmonary pseudocyst with hemopneumothorax due to a blunt chest trauma after a traffic accident.Case presentationAfter a traffic accident, a 60-year-old Caucasian Greek woman sustained a hemopneumothorax due to a blunt chest trauma. There was evidence of an extensive contusion in the posterior and lateral segments of the right lower lobe, a finding that was attributed to an early sign of a cavitation, and the presence of a thin-walled air cavity was detected on the anterior segment of the right lower lobe in the control computed tomography taken 24 hours after admission. Our patient was treated by catheter aspiration, and the findings of computed tomography evaluation about one month later showed complete resolution of one of the two air-filled cavitary lesions. The second pseudocyst also disappeared completely, as shown by the control computed tomography scan performed six months later.ConclusionsTraumatic pulmonary pseudocyst is a rare complication of blunt chest trauma, and computed tomography is a more valuable imaging technique than chest radiograph for early diagnosis.

Epigastric Pain and Pleural Effusion in a 12-Year-Old

“…These arise acutely after trauma and typically resolve without intervention. 16 We felt this diagnosis was unlikely given our patient’s lack of recalled trauma.…”

Unusual cavitary lesions of the lung; analysis of patients with traumatic pulmonary pseudocyst

“…Men have more motor vehicle accidents and fall more from a high distance. Therefore, they are reported to be more likely to be affected [ 8 ]. Similarly, in our study, most of the patients were male (n=22, 73.3%).…”

Case Report: Post-Traumatic Pulmonary Pseudocysts

“…It has been reported that traumatic pulmonary pseudocysts are more often seen in children and young adults because of greater compliance of the chest wall permitting larger transmission of force to the parenchyma [4]. Impact velocity and degree of chest wall displacement is thought to alter the type of lesion with high velocity impact causing peripheral lesions while low velocity impact produces central parenchymal and bronchial disruption [5] A series of chest X-rays taken over several days can be used to differentiate traumatic pulmonary pseudocysts from other kinds of cystic or cavitary lesions [6]. The lesions are reported to resolve spontaneously over a period of one to six months [7].…”