Giant bullae are those that occupy at least 30% of the hemithorax. It is a progressive condition that is also associated with several forms of emphysema. Nonsurgical management of giant lung bullae during. The patient had a normal fvc and fev 1 but low t lco and k co. Bullous disease of the lung fishmans pulmonary diseases. Bulla of the lung is a pathological entity caused by the confluence of two or more of the terminal elements of the bronchial tree. Idiopathic giant bullous emphysema, also known as vanishing lung syndrome vls, is characterized by giant emphysematous bullae, which commonly develop in the upper lobes and occupy at least onethird of a hemithorax. Giant bullous emphysema vanishing lung syndrome is a rare condition that typically presents in young male smokers with a history of cannabis use or. Pulmonary function improved in most patients with symptomatic or complicated giant bullae, or both, after bullectomy. Bullae of lung develops when the emphysema damages the lungs to an extent that air pockets develop. In areas of the lung completely damaged by the disease, air pockets can develop. Type 1 bullae have smooth internal lining without trabeculae and type 4 have trabec. A bulla is an aircontaining space within the lung parenchyma that arises from destruction, dilatation, and confluence of airspaces distal to terminal bronchioles and is larger than 1 cm in diameter.
Bullae are thinwalled, airfilled cystic spaces that exceed 1 cm in diameter and are found within the lungs. These air pockets tend to grow and put pressure on the lungs since it starts occupying the space. The most common etiology of bullae is cigarette smoking. The term giant bulla is used for bullae that occupy at least 30 percent of a hemithorax. Bullae are defined as an air space in the lung measuring above 1 cm in diameter when distended. Thoracoscopic technique for management of giant bullous. Giant bullous emphysema has also been called vanishing lung syndrome. Clinical features of primary lung cancer adjoining. Bullae of lung also known by the name of giant bulla is a common pathological condition found in the lungs which is usually caused by emphysema. Giant apical bulla vanishing lung syndrome radiology. As shown in this report, a bullectomy via vats could be a good option for treatment of giant bullae.
As an air pocketa bulla grows, it takes up space in the chest cavity and can encroach on the lungs. We report a 58yearold man who underwent surgical treatment of primary lung cancer arising from the wall of a giant bulla. Giant pulmonary bullae mimicking spontaneous pneumothorax. Evaluation and medical management of giant bullae uptodate. A single giant bulla may be present, or a giant bulla may be accompanied by a number of smaller adjacent bullae. Only 17 of more than 500 cases of thoracoscopic treatment of bullous lung disease over the past 3 years involved giant bullae, which included both types 1 and 4. Surgical resection is a recognized treatment, but functional improvement after bullectomy is not satisfactory in patients with forced expiratory volume in 1 s fev1 10 cm in diameter.
Nonsurgical management of giant lung bullae during mechanical ventilation article pdf available in respiratory care 5610. Bullous and bleb diseases of the lung thoracic key. Giant lung bullae have a large impact on respiratory mechanics 1,2 and make ventilator management difficult in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation. Bullae in both lung apices were an incidental finding on chest radiography. Giant bullae of the lungs are readily recognizable on plain chest xray films and are rare. Patients with large bullae and poor respiratory function have limited treatment options. Chest roentgenography and computed tomography revealed multiple emphysematous bullae in the bilateral upper lobes, and a right upper giant bulla with a mass measuring 6 cm arising on the bulla wall. Pdf a giant bulla of the lung mimicking tension pneumothorax. These areas threaten the patients health not only because of the underlying emphysema. Furthermore, three bullae, which were approximately the size of a hen. Idiopathic giant bullous emphysema radiology reference. A high resolution ct scan of the thorax showed multiple large emphysematous bullae distributed peripherally in both upper lobes with normal residual parenchyma and sparing of the rest of the lung fig 2. Vanishing lung syndrome was first reported by burke in 1937 1, roberts first presents the radiographic criteria for this condition.
Vanishing lung syndrome or idiopathic giant emphysematous bulla, is a rare syndrome in which bullae take up 30% of the affected hemithorax with no identifiable underlying etiology. The present report describes a case of a giant pulmonary bulla in a 40yearold man that progressed to occupy almost the entire left hemithorax and also subsequently ruptured to produce a large. As far as we know, this case was the first report of giant bullae in young smoker in korea. Emphysematous bullae are a complication of endstage copd. Bullous lung disease is a lung disorder, which causes a patient to suffer from shortage of breath. Bullae in late stage lung fibrosis, such as late stage sarcoidosis or pneumoconiosis. Successful treatment of bulla with endobronchial valves.
The indications were dyspnea in 10 cases, spontaneous. Pdf nonsurgical management of giant lung bullae during. We have found in our population of patients that it is possible to remove a giant bulla of the lung under those circumstances with reasonable morbidity and mortality. In addition to optimal medical management, bullectomy, endobronchial valve insertion, or transbronchial deflation can be considered in selected patients, on the basis. A single giant bulla may be surrounded by normal lung tissue or may be accompanied by a number of smaller adjacent bullae. Giant bulla formation in the lung because of a checkvalve mechanism. It results due to the formation of bullae in the lungs of an individual. Martinez definition a bulla is an aircontaining space within the lung parenchyma that arises from destruction, dilatation, and confluence of airspaces distal to terminal bronchioles and is larger than 1 cm in diameter fig. Bullous and bleb diseases of the lung talat chughtai emilie perron mathieu simon jean deslauriers bullae were defined at the 1959 ciba symposium as emphysematous spaces larger than 1 cm in diameter in the inflated lung, usually but not necessarily demarcated from surrounding lung by curved hairline shadows. The condition is usually associated with vesicular emphysema at any age and probably exists more frequently than is suspected in cases of tuberculosis, anthracosilicosis and other conditions where emphysema is often present to greater or lesser degree. The radiographic criteria for giant bullous emphysema, as defined by roberts et al.
Pdf primary lung cancer arising from the wall of a giant. At autopsy bullae of any appreciable size bulge from the surface of the lung, blebs, however, collapse when there is no longer any influx of air and the pleural space is opened. A giant bulla of the lung mimicking tension pneumothorax. Although the pathological staging and lung function data revealed no statistical difference, the survival curve of bullacancer group was significantly worse p bullae of the lung are by no means innocuous. Type 1 bullae have smooth internal lining without trabeculae and type 4 have trabeculae. Copdrelated emphysematous bullae are the most common type of lung bullae, whereas ventilatorassociated lung bullae are rare. Bullectomy for symptomatic or complicated giant lung bullae. Pdf herein, we report a case of giant bulla of the right lung in a 35 year old woman. The patient was diagnosed to have a giant emphysematous bulla in the left lung on chest radiography. Bullous lung disease includes hivrelated emphysema. Giant bullous emphysema gbe, referred to as vanishing lung syndrome as a clinical syndrome, was first described by burke in 1937. A bulla is defined as an air space in the lung measuring more than one centimeter in diameter in the distended state.
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