CONGENITAL LOBAR EMPHYSEMA: A DIAGNOSTIC CHALLENGE BUT TREATABLE CONGENITAL DISORDER OF LUNGS

Abstract

Lobar emphysema is a rare abnormality and usually congenital. Its incidence is 1 per 20,000 to 30,000 live births and is characterised by marked overinflation of a single pulmonary lobe usually upper left, and less commonly right middle lobe. Lower lobes are rarely affected1. There is gross overinflation of the affected lobe and mediastinal shift to opposite side. It can often present as a diagnostic problem initially confusing with pneumonia and other causes of respiratory distress2. Diagnosis is usually based on clinical examination and plain radiography but it is not always straightforward3,4. In these cases computed tomography and ventilation perfusion (V/Q) scintigraphy may be helpful. This report describes a case, initially diagnosed as severe pneumonia/disease but eventually proved to be suffering from congenital lobar emphysema and required surgical intervention.