Arora Samarth, Dongre Aditi H, Joshi Priscilla
Radiology, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University) Medical College and Hospital, Pune, IND.
Cureus. 2025 Mar 26;17(3):e81230. doi: 10.7759/cureus.81230. eCollection 2025 Mar.
Intercostal lung hernia is a rare condition characterized by the protrusion of lung tissue through a defect in the intercostal muscles or thoracic wall. It can be congenital or arise secondary to trauma or surgery or can be a spontaneous rupture due to elevated intrathoracic pressure. Given its rarity, intercostal lung hernia can present a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. We present the case of a 36-year-old man who came to our hospital's Emergency Medicine Department with an alleged history of assault with a sharp object. He sustained a stab wound over the lateral aspect of the left side of the chest associated with bleeding from the puncture site. On assessment, there was decreased air entry on the left side of the chest. A supine chest radiograph, on admission, revealed a suspicious ill-defined lucency in the subcutaneous tissues of the left chest wall. He subsequently underwent a contrast CT of the thorax on a 128-slice CT machine which revealed lung tissue in the subcutaneous plane of the left chest wall suggestive of a lung herniation. The patient underwent surgery and is recovering well. This case report highlights a unique presentation of intercostal lung hernia, emphasizing the need for early diagnosis and expeditious treatment.
肋间肺疝是一种罕见的病症，其特征为肺组织通过肋间肌或胸壁的缺损处突出。它可以是先天性的，也可继发于创伤或手术，或者由于胸腔内压力升高而自发破裂。鉴于其罕见性，肋间肺疝可能带来诊断和治疗方面的挑战。我们报告一例36岁男性病例，该患者因据称被锐器袭击而前来我院急诊科。他左侧胸部外侧遭受刺伤，穿刺部位有出血。评估时发现左侧胸部呼吸音减弱。入院时的仰卧位胸部X线片显示左胸壁皮下组织有可疑的边界不清的透亮区。随后他在一台128层CT机上接受了胸部增强CT检查，结果显示左胸壁皮下平面有肺组织，提示肺疝形成。该患者接受了手术，目前恢复良好。本病例报告突出了肋间肺疝的一种独特表现，强调了早期诊断和迅速治疗的必要性。
