Pyothorax-associated lymphoma (PAL) is a rare haematological malignancy often associated with artificial pneumothorax due to the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. A 76 year old man with chronic tube-drained pyothorax and a history of artificial pneumothorax for pulmonary tuberculosis was admitted to our hospital because of progressive right thoracic pain, weight loss, and pyrexia. After clinical examination and imaging processes a chest wall tumour anterior on the right side was diagnosed as well as a persisting pyothorax. Surgery was performed to resect the tumour and drain the pleural cavity. A diagnosis of a high grade B-cell lymphoma was established after histological examination of the surgical biopsy. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was identified in the tumour by immunocytochemical and molecular methods. Additional gastric involvement of B-cell lymphoma could be diagnosed by gastroscopy because of postoperative gastrointestinal bleeding. The patient received chemotherapy with 2 courses of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisolone (CHOP). The response was favourable initially, but 2 months later the patient died because of lymphoma progression.
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