Preoperative diagnosis of bronchial atresia presenting with recurrent respiratory symptoms in an infant

Abstract

Bronchial atresia (BA) is a rare respiratory malformation that may be diagnosed from infancy to adulthood. A typical feature of the disease is involvement of the left upper lobe and a mass-like lesion surrounded by a hyperlucent and nondeflating zone. We present a six-month-old male infant who was diagnosed by contrast-enhanced spiral computed tomography (CT) with three-dimensional (3D) technology, and by Tc-99m-macroalbumin aggregate (Tc99m-MAA) radionuclide scintigraphy. We stress that early diagnosis of BA can be made noninvasively using contrast-enhanced spiral CT and radionuclide scintigraphy. 3D computed tomographic reformation allows a more accurate diagnosis as well as a more specific approach to management and follow-up.