THE UNUSUAL DEVELOPMENT OF EMPYEMA WITH MULTIPLE ALVEOLOBRONCHIOLAR FISTULAS 8 YEARS AFTER NON-CURATIVE RESECTION AND RADIATION FOR LUNG-CANCER - REPORT OF A CASE

We present herein the case of a man who developed empyema with multipl e lung fistulae 8 years after receiving postoperative radiation for a residual tumor on the bronchial stump. The patient was successfully ma naged with two-stage surgery, involving an open window thoracotomy, fo llowed by omental flap transfer. This case documents how postoperative radiotherapy that was effective following non-curative resection was also responsible for the development of empyema. Furthermore, although the empyema was successfully treated using the omentum, a small free spate remained in the thorax, which resolved within 2 months.