CHRONIC EXPANDING HEMATOMA IN THE CHEST

We herein report the successful surgical treatment of 2 cases of chron ic expanding hematoma in the chest. The first patient, who had undergo ne thoracoplasty 42 years earlier due to tuberculosis, became aware of a slowly growing mass protruding in the lateral thoracic wall. The se cond patient, who had tuberculous pleurisy 36 years earlier, was refer red to our department because of a slowly expanding intrathoracic mass revealed by a roentgenogram. The tumors, which were encapsulated chro nic hematomas, were both surgically resected. These cases are rare bec ause of the development of a very large mass after undergoing treatmen t for tuberculosis more than 30 years previously. (C) 1997 by The Soci ety of Thoracic Surgeons.