Spontaneous pneumothorax: a rare complication of miliary tuberculosis

Ann Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2001 Feb;7(1):45-8.

Abstract

Pneumothorax is a rare complication of miliary tuberculosis. In this report, a 25-year old patient developing pneumothorax while on the treatment for miliary tuberculosis treatment is presented and the related literature has been reviewed. Pneumothorax, although rare, should be considered when a patient with miliary tuberculosis develops a sudden, severe pain on either side of the chest with breathlessness. The treatment should be tailored according to the size of pneumothorax either pleural drainage through chest tube or needle aspiration. Meanwhile, antituberculous treatment should be continued without interruption.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antitubercular Agents / therapeutic use
  • Dyspnea / diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Lung / diagnostic imaging
  • Male
  • Pleural Effusion / diagnostic imaging
  • Pneumothorax / diagnostic imaging
  • Pneumothorax / etiology*
  • Pneumothorax / physiopathology*
  • Radiography
  • Tuberculosis, Miliary / complications*
  • Tuberculosis, Miliary / diagnostic imaging
  • Tuberculosis, Miliary / drug therapy

Substances

  • Antitubercular Agents