[Bilateral giant distended cysts in lymphangioleiomyomatosis of the lung as a rare cause of inflow obstruction].

We report on a 27-year-old female developing acute thoracic inlet obstruction by bilateral pulmonary cysts which arose from pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis and increased with respiratory treatment. Bilateral synchronous bullectomy via median sternotomy was necessary to resolve the life-threatening condition. The most frequent differential diagnoses are tension pneumothorax and pericardial tamponade. Although this case of thoracic inlet obstruction was caused by a rare disease it may serve to recall the therapeutic problems encountered in bullous pulmonary lesions under tension, especially regarding acute volume expansion due to one-way valve mechanism during respiratory treatment or general anaesthesia.