Bronchogenic cyst: An uncommon cause of congenital lobar emphysema

We report a case of a 1-month-old boy who has developed respiratory distress. Chest X-ray and CT scan showed over distension of the left upper lobe and a mediastinal shift in favour of congenital lobar emphysema (CLE) of the left upper lobe. One month after uneventful lobectomy, he was readmitted at hospital for another episode of respiratory distress. Chest radiography revealed relapse of compressive emphysema in the remaining left lobe. Gastro oesophageal transit and MRI were performed, which have shown a mediastinal. cystic mass. Accordingly, the patient underwent thoracotomy. Surgical examination found a subcarinal. bronchogenic cyst which compressed the main left bronchus, causing the CLE of both upper and lower left lobes. Histological examination of removed cyst confirmed these data. Authors discuss causes of diagnostic delay. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.