Large cell carcinoma on the bullous wall detected in a specimen from a patient with spontaneous pneumothorax: report of a case

Bullous emphysema has been proven to be an important risk factor for lung cancer. Some reports have described pneumothorax caused by rupture of an emphysematous bulla, following which cancer is found in the resected specimen. A 72-year-old male patient was referred to our hospital because of dyspnea and high fever. Chest radiography and computed tomography (CT) revealed right pneumothorax and emphysematous bullae. There was also effusion in the bullae and thoracic cavity. Based on the diagnosis of pneumothorax and a lung infection associated with bullous emphysema, we resected the bullae. Pathological examination of the specimen revealed a mass and large cell carcinoma.