Abstract

Spontaneous pneumothorax may occur primarily or secondary due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, severe asthma crisis, infections, histiocytosis or malignant conditions. Tuberculosis, pneumocystis carinii infection, necrotizing pneumonias and fungal infections are well-documented causes of spontaneous pneumothorax. We here present a case with spontaneous pneumothorax due to fungal infection in the treatment period of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The patient was diagnosed as acute lymphoblastic leukemia accompanying Down syndrome. The chest Xray in the neutropenic period revealed probable bilateral fungal infiltration and hydropneumothorax at the right side. The patient was treated with closed chest tube drainage and appropriate antibiotherapy. Therapy was resulted with cure in two weeks and drainage was ended. After completing the treatment for leukemia, the patient has been under follow-up with remission in the aspect of leukemia and hydropneumothorax.