Secondary spontaneous pneumothorax as an initial manifestation of lung cancer: a case report - Takeaways - MDSpire

Secondary spontaneous pneumothorax as an initial manifestation of lung cancer: a case report

  • By

  • Jian-bao Yang

  • Chong-Rui Li

  • Cheng Wang

  • Xiao-ping Wei

  • Tao jing

  • June 8, 2026

  • 0 min

Share

  • 1

    Secondary spontaneous pneumothorax (SSP) can be a rare initial presentation of lung cancer, complicating diagnosis due to benign-appearing bullae.

  • 2

    A 55-year-old male with a significant smoking history presented with right-sided chest pain and was diagnosed with SSP after imaging showed no malignancy.

  • 3

    Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery revealed multiple bullae, but no solid lesions were palpable during intraoperative exploration.

  • 4

    Postoperative histopathological examination unexpectedly identified a 6mm infiltrating lung adenocarcinoma in the resected bullae.

  • 5

    Clinicians should maintain a high suspicion for lung cancer in high-risk patients presenting with atypical pneumothorax, despite negative imaging findings.

Original Source(s)

Secondary spontaneous pneumothorax as an initial manifestation of lung cancer: a case report

  • by Jian-bao Yang, Chong-Rui Li, Cheng Wang, Xiao-ping Wei, Tao jing

  • June 8, 2026

Related Content

Papillary thyroid carcinoma with brain and lung metastases: a case report

Zapnometinib treatment and influenza A virus infection modulate the HLA class I ligandome in human lung adenocarcinoma cells

Training on PD-L1 scoring in non-small cell lung cancer with high intra- and inter-reader agreement: results of a worldwide microscopic/digital image-based training of 751 pathologists