Veronesi G, Spaggiari L, Solli P G, Leo F, Villa G, Pastorino U
Thoracic Surgery Division, European Institute of Oncology, Milano, Italy.
Ann Oncol. 2002 Dec;13(12):1945-7. doi: 10.1093/annonc/mdf310.
Postpneumonectomy syndrome (PPS) is a rare complication of pneumonectomy due to an excessive mediastinal shift producing compression of the main bronchus or a lobe bronchus on the aorta or the spine. We report an exceptional case in which an extreme mediastinal shift was due to fibrosis and complete atelectasis of the left lung, as a complication of chemoradiation treatment for recurrent mediastinal Hodgkin's lymphoma. This condition, associated with a further recurrence of the disease, indicated a postpneumonectomy-like syndrome.