Foreign-body aspiration mimicking congenital lobar emphysema in a forty-eight-day-old girl

Pediatr Pulmonol. 2005 Feb;39(2):189-91. doi: 10.1002/ppul.20128.

Abstract

Foreign-body aspiration (FBA) is a commonly encountered serious problem during childhood, accounting for 7% of lethal accidents in children aged 1-3 years. Bronchoscopy is indicated when a clear history of FBA is present, but the history may be unreliable. Clinical manifestations can be seen in various diseases, and when a history of FBA cannot be obtained, radiologic findings such as hyperaeration can suggest the presence of congenital anomalies, e.g., congenital lobar emphysema. Here, a 48-day-old girl with coconut aspiration is described, to emphasize that a clinical history may not be available and FBA should be among the possible diagnoses, even before 6 months of age.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Bronchi*
  • Bronchoscopy
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Foreign Bodies / diagnosis*
  • Foreign Bodies / therapy
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Inhalation
  • Pulmonary Emphysema / congenital
  • Pulmonary Emphysema / diagnosis*
  • Radiography, Thoracic
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed