Spontaneous pneumothorax in a patient with an azygos lobe.

The association between a spontaneous pneumothorax and an azygos lobe is surprisingly rare. A case is reported in which surgical management was difficult; it is suggested that thoracotomy is preferable to video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in this situation. It is possible that the presence of an azygos lobe might protect against the subsequent development of a spontaneous pneumothorax, and the possible mechanism of this is discussed.