Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2011; 59(7): 445-446
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1270757
Case Reports
Thoracic
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Intrapleural Thoracolithiasis: A Rare Intrathoracic Pearl-Like Lesion

C. Bolca1 , S. Trahan2 , E. Frechette1
  • 1Department of Thoracic Surgery, Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Quebec, Quebec, Canada
  • 2Department of Pathology, Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Quebec, Quebec, Canada
Further Information

Publication History

received December 2, 2010

accepted December 15, 2010

Publication Date:
28 March 2011 (online)

Abstract

Pleural stone or thoracolithiasis is a very rare condition with only 16 cases treated by surgery reported in the literature. We report the case of a 66-year-old patient in whom the pleural stone was thought to be a posterior mediastinal tumor. Exploratory thoracoscopy revealed a 1.5-cm “pearl”-like lesion in the pleural cavity that was easily removed, with an uncomplicated postoperative outcome. As thoracic surgeons, we have to consider this condition in the differential diagnosis of a pleural, lung or mediastinal nodule

References

  • 1 Kinoshita F, Saida Y, Okajima Y et al. Thoracolithiasis, 11 cases with a calcified intrapleural loose body.  J Thorac Imaging. 2010;  25 64-67
  • 2 Dias A R, Zerbini E J, Curi N. Pleural stone. A case report.  J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1968;  56 120-122
  • 3 Iwasaki T, Nakagava K, Katsura H et al. Surgically removed thoracolithiasis: report of two cases.  Ann Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2006;  12 279-282
  • 4 Pineda V, Caceres J, Andreu J et al. Epipericardial fat necrosis: radiologic diagnosis and follow-up.  AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2005;  185 1234-1236
  • 5 Kosaka S, Kondo N, Sakaguchi H et al. Thoracolithiasis.  Jpn J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2000;  48 318-321

Dr. Ciprian Bolca, MD

Department of Thoracic Surgery
Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Quebec

2725 Chemin Sainte-Foy

G1V 4G5 Quebec

Canada

Phone: +1 41 86 56 87 11

Fax: +40 3 69 81 67 03

Email: bolcaciprian@gmail.com