A case of massive hemoptysis occurring after lung injury due to a torn segment of pleural calcification

A 64-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of little improvement of hemoptysis lasting three days after drug therapy. A chest roentgenogram and fiberoptic bronchoscopic examination performed on the second hospital day when the patient experienced a massive hemoptysis of about 2,000 ml revealed arterial bleeding from the left upper lobe. Even after extensive embolizations of the left upper bronchial, the first, second, third and 4th intercostal arteries, the patient's hemoptysis did not improve. On the 73rd hospital day the patient underwent left upper lobectomy. Macroscopic and microscopic examinations in the resected specimen revealed lung injury due to a torn segment of pleural calcification after tuberculous pleuritis, resulting in the massive hemoptysis. Although physicians encounter many patients complaining of hemoptysis and/or hemosputum, this case is considered to be very rare.