ABSTRACT

Pulmonary hernia or pneumocele is the protrusion of the pulmonary parenchyma through a defect in the thoracic wall. Only 20 cases were reported in the last decade. It was presented the case of a male patient, aged 86 years. With a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, who assisted the consultation because of presenting a mass in the left lateral region of the thorax of 6 months of evolution, with increase in size and pain after a crisis of his underlying disease. By imaging study it was diagnosed a spontaneous intercostal pulmonary hernia, secondary to a diastasis of the intercostal space between the eighth and ninth ribs. Relatives refused the surgical correction of the wall defect. Spontaneous pulmonary hernia should be considered in patients at risk of intra-thoracic pressure increase who assist to consultation due to thoracic pain, focalized soft mass in the wall and persistent cough.

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