Spontaneous hemothorax associated with neurofibromatosis type I: A review of the literature

Neurofibromatosis is generally a benign disease, but has the potential for rare and fatal complications, such as spontaneous hemothorax. We report a case of massive hemothorax due to neurofibroma in a 49-year-old woman with neurofibromatosis type 1. The configuration of the radiological opacity and frank blood withdrawn on thoracentesis should suggest the diagnosis of hemothorax in a patient with neurofibromatosis. Surgical treatment for hemothorax is limited by arterial fragility and the prognosis is relatively poor. Any evidence of aneurysmal disease in the thoracic vessels should be aggressively managed percutaneously by coil embolization to prevent future rupture.