Congenital segmental emphysema in an adult patient

Niger J Clin Pract. 2019 Aug;22(8):1163-1165. doi: 10.4103/njcp.njcp_141_18.

Abstract

Congenital segmental emphysema (CSE) is a disease characterized by severe hyperinflation of a specific segment of the lung without any intrinsic or extrinsic compression. It is most commonly observed in neonates and young children with acute respiratory distress. It is usually unilateral, and the left upper lobe of the lung is most often affected. Rarely, patients may remain asymptomatic until they are older and, therefore, may be diagnosed later. Cases unexplained until adulthood are sometimes detected incidentally as single-sided hyperinflation on a chest X-ray image. We have presented an extremely rare case where the patient remained asymptomatic until adulthood and did not exhibit any clinical findings.

Keywords: Adult; congenital; emphysema; segmental.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Lung / diagnostic imaging*
  • Male
  • Pneumonia / diagnostic imaging*
  • Pneumonia / drug therapy
  • Pulmonary Emphysema / congenital*
  • Pulmonary Emphysema / diagnostic imaging
  • Pulmonary Emphysema / surgery
  • Radiography
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents

Supplementary concepts

  • Congenital lobar emphysema