HEMOTHORAX COMPLICATING HEREDITARY MULTIP LE EXOSTOSIS

Background. - Hemothorax is a rare complication of hereditary multiple exostosis. Case report. - A 12 year-old boy suffered from abrupt thor acic pain, firstly attributed to pleural effusion. He had hereditary m ultiple exostosis known since the age of 9 years. The patient was give n anti-inflammatory drugs and erythro,mycin but the pleural effusion b ecame more abundant 6 days later requiring thoracentesis which showed hemothorax. All bacteriological and cytologic investigations were nega tive. X rays, ultra-sonography and CT scan showed several costal exost oses developing into the thoracic cavity. The hemorthorax disappeared within 12 days and the patient was well 4 months later, without pleura l sequelae. Conclusions. - Hemothorax may be due to internal costal ex ostosis. It may be cured with thoracentesis; more agressive therapy sh ould be performed in exceptional cases with severe and/or recurrent bl eeding.