Case Report
BibTex RIS Cite

Hemorrhagic Complicated Giant Bullae

Year 2025, Volume: 32 Issue: 3, 244 - 247, 09.09.2025

Abstract

Giant bullous emphysema (GBE) is a rare condition often seen in young smokers but may also occur in non-smokers. We present a 45-year-old non-smoking female with progressive dyspnea and a large cystic lesion detected in the right lower lobe on thoracic CT. The lesion was identified as a giant bulla without communication with the bronchial tree. A right lower lobectomy was performed due to its size and internal vascular structures. Histopathological examination confirmed bullous emphysema with hemorrhagic and congestion. The postoperative period was uneventful. This case highlights the importance of differentiating giant bullae from pneumothorax to avoid inappropriate chest tube placement. Surgical resection via thoracotomy or video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) remains the definitive treatment for symptomatic cases.

References

  • 1. Waseem M, Jones J, Brutus S, et al. Giant bulla mimicking pneumothorax. J Emerg Med 2005;29(2):155–8.
  • 2. Jaiswal P, Dhand R, Aggarwal AN, et al. The vanishing lung. Postgrad Med J 2017;93(1106):780–1.
  • 3. Fraser RG, Pare JAP. Diagnosis of diseases of the chest. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1989. p.1022–8.
  • 4. Moustafa MA. Vanishing lung. Open J Thorac Surg 2022;12(3):43–50.
  • 5. Im Y, Farooqi S, Mora A Jr. Vanishing lung syndrome. Baylor Univ Med Cent Proc 2016;29(4):438–40.
  • 6. Dogan C, Guvenc TS, Kaya O, et al. A giant bulla causing compression on the left ventricle. Izmir Gogus Hastan Derg 2015;29(3):169–72.
  • 7. Shaikh FH, Zerilli NA, Jamil T, Ishtiaq D, Avasthi D. “Breaking the bleed” spontaneous hemorrhage in an emphysematous bulla complicated by anticoagulation: A case report. Cureus 2024;16(12).
There are 7 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Thoracic Surgery
Journal Section Case Reports
Authors

Muhammed Samet Özdemir 0009-0001-1622-7977

Rasih Yazkan 0000-0002-7369-6710

Hasan Ekrem Çamaş 0000-0003-0212-0439

Süleyman Emre Akın 0000-0002-0641-5229

Publication Date September 9, 2025
Submission Date May 4, 2025
Acceptance Date September 3, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 32 Issue: 3

Cite

Vancouver Özdemir MS, Yazkan R, Çamaş HE, Akın SE. Hemorrhagic Complicated Giant Bullae. Med J SDU. 2025;32(3):244-7.

                                                                                               14791 


Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi/Medical Journal of Süleyman Demirel University is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International.