Clinical diagnostic approach to congenital agenesis of right lung with dextrocardia: a case report with review of literature

Clin Respir J. 2016 Nov;10(6):805-808. doi: 10.1111/crj.12282. Epub 2015 Mar 19.

Abstract

Background and aim: Congenital lung agenesis is extremely rare. The aim of this article is to evaluate the clinical diagnostic approach to congenital lung agenesis with a case report.

Methods: We described a 44-day-old male child with right pulmonary agenesis presented to us with severe respiratory distress. He was misdiagnosed as a case of foreign body bronchus at emergency room according chest X-ray. Right lung agenesis was confirmed by CT scan. Echocardiography showed dextrocardia, absence of right pulmonary artery and small atrial septal defect. Then we reviewed the related literature with Medline and Pubmed databases.

Conclusion: It is recommended that CT scan is the key diagnostic approach for lung agenesis and invasive diagnostic procedures and prophylactic surgery should not be done in asymptomatic cases.

Keywords: computed tomography (CT); foreign body bronchus; lung agenesis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Abnormalities, Multiple / diagnostic imaging*
  • Dextrocardia / diagnostic imaging*
  • Diagnostic Errors
  • Disease Management
  • Echocardiography / methods
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Lung / abnormalities*
  • Lung / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung Diseases / diagnostic imaging*
  • Male
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods

Supplementary concepts

  • Lung agenesis