Massive hemothorax following CT-guided lung biopsy: A rare iatrogenic complication managed conservatively
CT-guided transthoracic lung biopsy is an essential diagnostic technique for evaluating pulmonary lesions. Although rare, major complications such as hemothorax can be life-threatening. We report the case of a 35-year-old woman who developed a rapidly enlarging right hemothorax several hours after CT-guided core needle biopsy of a pleura-abutting right lower lobe mass. There was no arterial extravasation, and chest tube drainage yielded approximately 1500 mL of dark, clotted blood, suggesting a venous or tumoral source. The patient remained hemodynamically stable and achieved complete recovery with conservative management. This case highlights that even massive post-biopsy hemothorax can be successfully treated non-operatively in stable patients by adhering to trauma-based management principles.
Authors
- Ali Forat Yazdi
- Bahman Rasuli
Institutions
- Iran University of Medical Sciences (IR)
- Tehran University of Medical Sciences (IR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Trauma Case Reports
- Published
- 2026-02-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tcr.2026.101303
- Primary Topic
- Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00