Docetaxel (Taxotere®)-induced cavitary change of pulmonary metastatic lesions complicated by bilateral spontaneous pneumothoraces in a patient with primary adenocarcinoma of the lung

ABSTRACT

Pneumothorax is a complication that rarely occurs after chemotherapy for lung cancer. We report the chest computed tomography findings of a case of spontaneous pneumothorax complicating docetaxel (Taxotere®) treatment for pulmonary metastasis in a 70-year-old woman with pulmonary adenocarcinoma. The patient developed bilateral pneumothoraces, which was induced by changes in the cavitary pulmonary metastatic lesions, after systemic chemotherapy with docetaxel. The chest computed tomography findings and possible mechanisms of this unusual complication are discussed in this report.