A case report of video-assisted thoracoscopic pneumonectomy for pulmonary atypical mycobacteriosis.

We report a case of a 61-year old woman with pulmonary atypical mycobacteriosis. Although she had been treated with chemotherapy, image findings gradually deteriorated. Chest X-ray and CT scan demonstrated that the advanced destruction with cavity formation and diffused shadow in the right lung. She underwent a right pneumonectomy under the video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) approach. The operation time was 4.9 hours, and the amount of intraoperative bleeding was 550 ml. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged from hospital on 13th postoperative day. At present, two years after the operation, there is no progress of the pathogen into the other lung, and the patient is doing well with no postoperative complaint. Anatomically, pneumonectomy is a simple procedure, and in consideration of postoperative quality of life with alleviation of pain as well, VATS is worth trying in the cases where the status and nature of the disease are suitable for this technique.