Background: Postpneumonectomy-like syndrome is a rare condition resulting from unilateral lung disease with\nsevere lung volume loss leading to excessive mediastinal shift and herniation of the healthy lung into the\ncontralateral hemithorax, mimicking the mediastinal shift observed in postpneumonectomy syndrome after\npneumonectomy. We report a unique case of postpneumonectomy-like syndrome caused by an atypical bronchial\ncarcinoid completely occluding the left main bronchus.\nCase presentation: A 25-year-old woman presented with symptoms of chronic exertional dyspnea and productive\ncough. Imaging studies showed complete left lung atelectasis due to a mass occluding the left main bronchus, as well\nas extreme mediastinal deviation and substantial herniation of the right lung into the left hemithorax. Bronchoscopic\nbiopsy of the tumor and subsequent left pneumonectomy with concurrent lymph node dissection revealed an atypical\ncarcinoid. Sixteen months after surgery the patient has been asymptomatic with repeat imaging studies showing no\nchange in mediastinal shifting.\nConclusion: Bronchial carcinoids are notorious for causing bronchial obstruction. The present case represents an extreme\ncomplication of centrally located bronchial carcinoid, resulting in postpneumonectomy-like syndrome with severe\nmediastinal shift and herniation of the healthy lung into the diseased hemithorax.
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