Recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax in pulmonary histiocytosis X.

Spontaneous pneumothorax (SP) is commonly encountered by general surgeons and is usually caused by rupture of subpleural blebs. Although uncommon, SP may be due to primary pulmonary histiocytosis X, a disease characterized by eosinophilic and histiocytic infiltration of lung tissue. It primarily affects young smokers and usually presents with symptoms of cough, dyspnea, and chest pain. A young adult male with this disease presented with recurrent SP and was successfully treated with thoracoscopic stapling of bullae and pleural abrasion.