Pneumology - Case Reports
January 29, 2018

Unilateral pulmonary hypoplasia in an adult patient

Publisher's note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
1564
Views
702
Downloads

Authors

Pulmonary hypoplasia (PH) is a developmental anomaly of the lung parenchyma, characterized by a decrease in the number and size of airways, alveoli and vessels. We present a case of a 31-year-old patient with a history of chronic productive cough and frequent respiratory infections, who was referred for investigation of abnormal chest x-ray. The combination of chest computed tomography (CT) and bronchoscopy set the diagnosis of left pulmonary hypoplasia and the patient was treated surgically with a left pneumonectomy. PH is usually diagnosed immediately after birth, causing severe respiratory failure with high mortality. The less severe, unilateral forms can possibly survive by causing compensatory hyperinflation of the other lung and remain undiagnosed until adulthood, presenting either asymptomatic or with symptoms of chronic bronchitis and recurrent respiratory infections. Chest CT is considered the imaging technique of choice for the diagnosis and for the differential diagnosis from other congenital or acquired conditions. The treatment is usually conservative, although surgical resection is indicated in cases of severe cystic changes and intense symptomatology.

Altmetrics

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Citations

Dimitrios Papadopoulos, “Sismanoglio” General Hospital of Attica, 2nd Pulmonary Department
2nd Pulmonary Department
Panagiotis Misthos, “Sismanoglio” General Hospital of Attica, Thoracic Surgery Department
Thoracic Surgery Department
Maria Chorti, “Sismanoglio” General Hospital of Attica, Pathology Laboratory
Pathology Laboratory
Vlasios Skopas, “Sismanoglio” General Hospital of Attica, 2nd Pulmonary Department
2nd Pulmonary Department
Alexandra Nakou, “Sismanoglio” General Hospital of Attica, 2nd Pulmonary Department
2nd Pulmonary Department
Napoleon Karagianidis, “Sismanoglio” General Hospital of Attica, 2nd Pulmonary Department
2nd Pulmonary Department
Achilleas Lioulias, “Sismanoglio” General Hospital of Attica, Thoracic Surgery Department
Thoracic Surgery Department
Vasiliki Filaditaki, “Sismanoglio” General Hospital of Attica, 2nd Pulmonary Department
2nd Pulmonary Department

How to Cite



“Unilateral Pulmonary Hypoplasia in an Adult Patient”. 2018. Monaldi Archives for Chest Disease 88 (1). https://doi.org/10.4081/monaldi.2018.829.