RECURRENT MASSIVE HEMOTHORAX IN RENDU-OSLER-WEBER SYNDROME

We report a case of Rendu-Osler-Weber syndrome, occurring as sudden de ath after two episodes of massive hemothorax, Autopsy revealed massive hemothorax resulting from spontaneous rupture of one of three subpleu ral arteriovenous malformations. Review of the patient's hospital reco rds showed that she had had a massive spontaneous hemothorax 13 years earlier that was managed conservatively. This case emphasizes the impo rtance of early therapeutic (surgical or radiologic) intervention in t he treatment of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations.