OSTEOCHONDROMA OF THE RIB - AN UNUSUAL CAUSE OF HEMOTHORAX

The case is described of a 36 year old woman who presented with a larg e left sided haemothorax. A thoracic computed tomographic (CT) scan su ggested there was a bony outgrowth arising from the fourth rib. This w as resected surgically and found to be an osteochondroma which was sur rounded by blood clot. No definite site of bleeding was identified, bu t it is thought that the tumour may have traumatised the lung, the per icardiacophrenic artery, or the superior pulmonary vein, resulting in life threatening haemorrhage.