Focal stenosis in right upper lobe bronchus in a recurrently wheezing child sequentially studied by multidetector-row spiral computed tomography and scintigraphy

Kaohsiung J Med Sci. 2009 Dec;25(12):680-4. doi: 10.1016/S1607-551X(09)70575-3.

Abstract

Lower respiratory tract infections associated with wheezing are not uncommon in infants and young children. Among the wheezing-associated disorders, allergic etiologies are more commonly encountered than anatomic anomalies. We present a 3-year-old girl with a sudden attack of asthmatic symptoms including dyspnea, cyanosis and diffuse wheezing Based on a history of choking, and atelectasis in the right upper lobe detected by chest films, flexible tracheobronchoscopy was arranged and incidentally detected a stenotic orifice in the right upper lobe bronchus. Multidetector-row spiral computed tomography and pulmonary scintigraphy subsequently also disclosed the focal stenosis. She suffered from recurrent wheezing, pneumonia and lung atelectasis during 1 year of follow-up. We emphasize the diagnosis, clinical course and management of focal stenosis in the right upper lobe bronchus.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Bronchi / pathology*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Radionuclide Imaging / methods*
  • Recurrence
  • Respiratory Sounds*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods*