An eighteen year-old woman with anorexia nervosa was admitted to hospital with acute dyspnea. There was no history of trauma to the chest and the patient denied any vomiting.
Method: A chest radiograph was taken which showed bilateral pneumothoraces with complete collapse of both lungs.
Results: Following insertion of bilateral chest drains the patient made a complete recovery, later having bilateral pleurectomies performed to prevent recurrence.
Discussion: We discuss the evidence suggesting that the state of malnutrition that results from anorexia nervosa may in fact predispose patients to the development of pneumothoraces.
Copyright 2001 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.