Recurrent chest wall abscesses overlying a pneumonectomy scar: an unusual presentation of a cholecystocutaneous fistula

Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2010 May;10(5):828-9. doi: 10.1510/icvts.2009.221085. Epub 2010 Feb 5.

Abstract

We report a case of recurrent chest wall abscesses overlying a right thoracotomy scar four years after a pneumonectomy for a right middle lobe bronchus squamous cell carcinoma. Exploration of the abscess cavities revealed no intra-thoracic or intra-abdominal communication. The patient developed sinuses in his thoracotomy scar and two years later, two gallstones were expelled from these sinuses. A cholecystocutaneous fistula was confirmed on a fistulogram.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Pain / diagnosis
  • Abdominal Pain / etiology
  • Abscess / diagnosis*
  • Abscess / therapy
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Biliary Fistula / diagnosis*
  • Biliary Fistula / surgery
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / surgery
  • Cicatrix / etiology
  • Cicatrix / pathology*
  • Cutaneous Fistula / diagnosis*
  • Cutaneous Fistula / surgery
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Gallstones / complications
  • Gallstones / diagnosis
  • Gallstones / surgery
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Lung Neoplasms / surgery
  • Male
  • Pneumonectomy / adverse effects*
  • Pneumonectomy / methods
  • Recurrence
  • Risk Assessment
  • Streptococcal Infections / diagnosis*
  • Streptococcal Infections / therapy
  • Thoracic Wall
  • Treatment Outcome