Radiation and Bilateral Spontaneous Pneumothoraces

Spontaneous pneumothorax can be a rare complication of thoracic radiation therapy with severe consequences. Most of the cases in the medical literature have been described in lymphoma patients receiving radiation therapy. Spontaneous pneumothoraces are divided into two types which consist of primary and secondary. Primary occurs in absence of any known lung condition, while secondary has an underlying lung disease. The etiology of primary spontaneous pneumothorax has not yet been determined but risk factors such as smoking, family history, and male gender have been described unlike that of secondary which is associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other lung conditions. In this report, we discuss the association with radiation therapy and pneumothorax. The pathogenesis of this complication has not fully been elucidated although different mechanisms have been proposed. In this case report, we discuss the findings and management of a female patient treated for angiosarcoma from the scalp with metastasis to the lung that was complicated by pneumothorax.