Inflammatory State After Intrathoracic Breast Implant Placement for Postpneumonectomy Syndrome

We describe a case of a 16-year-old patient who underwent right pneumonectomy for pulmonary vein atresia and developed postpneumonectomy syndrome. She had an 800-cm3 saline-filled silicone tissue expander placed in the right hemithorax with resolution of her postpneumonectomy syndrome. However, 2 years later, she developed fevers, night sweats, and arthralgias. Her medical workup was negative for vasculitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and infectious etiologies. She underwent tissue expander removal, resulting in resolution of her symptoms. This report describes a case of an inflammatory state created by a tissue expander placed for postpneumonectomy syndrome.