Spontaneous Hemothorax in Infants: An Unusual Presentation

Abstract

We report the case of a 40-day-old boy, who presented to hospital with tachypnea and sudden pallor. A pleural effusion in the left chest was observed on the chest X-ray. He was ventilated and thoracic drainage was performed because of degradation of his respiratory status. Computed Tomography as well as Magnetic Resonance Imaging supported strongly the diagnosis of mediastinal neuroblastoma. The extension assessment was negative. We opted for a conservative treatment by chemotherapy, and the courses proceeded favourably. After neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the residual mass was resected completely through a left thoracotomy. Histopathological examination established the final diagnosis of ganglioneuroblastoma. Thus, it is possible to avoid invasive treatment for massive hemothorax caused by neuroblastoma by initiating chemotherapy.