대한흉부영상의학회 Korean Society of Thoracic Radiology

Discussion

Diagnosis With Brief Discussion

Diagnosis

Swyer-James syndrome

Radiologic Findings

Brief Review

Swyer-James syndrome (also called unilateral hyperlucent lung) is named following the roentgenographical manifestation. However, the disease process is not confined to only one lung. It may occur in various anatomic distributions, including various lobar distributions. Most cases of this disease are caused by bronchial and bronchiolar infection, probably viral origin during childhood.
The main radiological findings are a remarkable difference in the radiolucency of the two lungs by decreased perfusion, attenuation of the pulmonary vessels, diminutive but present ipsilateral hilum, normal or reduced volume of the affected lung (The younger the patient at the time of the viral infection, the smaller the fully developed lung.), air trapping during expiration, and irregular dilatation of the segmental bronchi with abrupt ending in squared or tapered termination.
The radiological differential diagnosis of unilateral hyperlucent lung includes a partial obstructive lesion in the main bronchus, chronic thromboembolic disease, congenital hypoplastic pulmonary artery, etc.

References

Keywords

Lung, Airway, Airway disease including COPD, Bronchiolitis,