Hyperlucent lung

Abstract

Unilateral hiperlucent lung is also known as Swyer-James Syndrome, Macleod Syndrome, lobular or unilateral emphysema. It is an uncommon disease characterized by hiperlucency of one lobe or lung and air trapping upon expiration. This syndrome is considered to be an acquired disease that appears secondary to respiratory infections during the early years of life, probably bronchiolitis and/ or viral pneumonia. The clinical presentation varies among patients. Some of them are asymptomatic, others present a history of recurrent episodes of pulmonary infections from early years of life or present exertional dyspnea. The diagnosis is usually made accidentally by a chest radiograph in a child with history of respiratory infections or in an adult during a routine chest x- ray. It is important to differentiate this syndrome from other causes of unilateral pulmonary hiperlucency on conventional chest x-rays. Few cases of Swyer-James Syndrome in children have been reported, we present herein the clinical case of a patient who had a Para influenza 3 bronchopneumonia when he was a month and eighteen days of age. The ensuring chest radiographs showed a hiperlucent lung. Further testing confirmed the clinical diagnosis of an unilateral hiperlucent lung.