Pleural metastasis is a common occurrence in up to 30% of patients with metastatic cancer. When lung entrapment and loculation of fluid occur, treatment is more difficult and we have named this condition "oncothorax." The malignant adhesions that entrap the lung in an oncothorax are not typically amenable to surgical decortication. The standard approach for managing these patients is to place an indwelling catheter. Other options may include pleurectomy and decortication, intrapleural hyperthermic chemoperfusion, and intrapleural photodynamic therapy. However, these procedures should be provided selectively depending on patient performance status, extent of metastatic disease, and level of experience.

A 75-year-old male patient with a history of previous right lung transplant presented with left upper lobe squamous cell carcinoma. Endobronchial ultrasound and positron emission tomography displayed no mediastinal lymphadenopathy. A ventilation-perfusion scan displayed minimal perfusion to the native lung. Left robot-assisted lysis of adhesions, decortication, left upper lobectomy, and mediastinal lymphadenectomy were performed. The patient tolerated the procedure well. Final pathology displayed pT2a, n0, m0. Lobectomy is a safe and efficient treatment of native lung malignancy in the setting of previous lung transplant with minimally functioning native lung.

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