Discussion
Diagnosis With Brief Discussion
- Diagnosis
- Congenital bronchial atresia
- Radiologic Findings
- A chest radiograph shows a nodule in the right upper lung zone. No other abnormality is evident. CT scans show branching soft-tissue opacity and surrounding hyperlucency in the apical segment of the right upper lobe. The lesions show neither calcification or enhancement. The other areas appear normal.
Fiberoptic bronchoscopy did not find any opening to the apical segment of the right upper lobe, and the expected bronchial opening site appeared smooth and was covered with the normal mucosa.
- Brief Review
- Congenital bronchial atresia is an anomaly characterized by obliteration of the proximal lumen of a segmental bronchus, with preservation of the distal structures. The areas most frequently involved are the apical and posterior segments of the left upper lobe, followed by the segmental bronchi of the right upper lobe, middle lobe, and rarely a lower lobe. The bronchial tree proximal to the atresia is patent. The mucous secretions generated in the bronchi accumulate at the point of obstruction. Air enters the affected segment via collateral channels, producing overinflation.
The radiographic findings mirror the pathologic changes: the affected area is darker than the surrounding lung, and, on radiographs obtained at expiration, obstructive emphysema is obvious. The accumulated secretions appear as areas of mucous impaction, which may have the typical branching pattern. The findings on CT scans are the same as those observed on chest radiographs, namely, segmental overinflation and mucous impaction, which are the hallmark of this condition.
- References
- 1. Fraser RG, Pare JAP, Fraser RS, Genereux GP, eds. Congenital bronchial atresia. In: diagnosis of diseases of the chest. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Saunders, 1989; 721-722.
2. Mata JM, Caceres J, Lucaya J, Garcia-Conesa JA. CT of congenital malformations of the lung. RadioGraphics 1990;10:651-674.
3. Remy-Jardin M, Remy J, Ribert M, Gosselin B. Bronchial atresia: diagnostic criteria and embryologic considerations. Diagn Intervent Radiol 1989;1:45-51.
- Keywords
- Airway, Congenital,