Pulmonary hypoplasia presenting with recurrent wheezing in an infant

Abstract

Pulmonary hypoplasia is characterized by decrease in the number and size of pulmonary airways, alveoli and vessels. In autopsy, pulmonary hypoplasia is a major cause of death in neonates and infants. The disease is usually diagnosed in childhood period. Although it mimics lung parenchymal disease and other vascular abnormalities radiologically, it is easily recognized with computed tomography angiography and magnetic resonance angiography examinations. In 50% of patients, concomitant cardiovascular, neuromuscular, gastrointestinal tract, and urogenital anomalies are also available. There are two types of pulmonary hypoplasia: primary and secondary. Primary unilateral pulmonary hypoplasia may be asymptomatic and the tendency for bronchopulmonary infections is often increased in children. In this case report, a 22-month-old male patient characterized by recurrent infections and recurrent wheezes in infantile period, whose episodes of wheezing regressed after the pulmonectomy, was presented.