Coexistence of bronchial atresia and bronchogenic cyst: Diagnostic criteria and embryologic considerations

Abstract

We report a case in a neonate of concurrent bronchial atresia and bronchogenic cyst. An accurate, noninvasive, preoperative diagnosis of this unusual combination of anomalies was made by ultrafast computed tomography (UFCT). This case supports the hypothesis that bronchial atresia results from an event occurring in the 5th-6th week of embryological development, rather than after the 16th week as previously believed.

Two cases of prenatally diagnosed congenital lobar emphysema caused by lobar bronchial atresia

“…Cases of symptomatic bronchial atresia occurred largely in adults or adolescents [2]. Cases with bronchial atresia who presented the symptoms in their neonatal periods were rarely reported [7,[9][10][11][12]. Recently, bronchial atresia can be detected antenatally by US [9,12], and our cases also were diagnosed antenatally with US and MRI.…”

“…The etiology is thought to be localized interruption of the blood supply to an already formed bronchus, resulting in bronchial infarction and luminal obstruction [11], or developmental abnormalities of bronchial cartilage after completion of bronchial branching [2]. In our 2 cases, connection between the main bronchus and peripheral bronchus was present macroscopically; however, its lumen was completely occluded without air entry, and cartilaginous anomalies were suggested as the cause of atresia on microscopic findings.…”

Mucoid Impaction and Lobar Emphysema Due to Bronchial Atresia Associated With a Bronchogenic Cyst

“…2 There is controversy concerning the timing of when bronchial atresia is believed to occur. One theory is that bronchial atresia results from intrauterine ischemia around the 16th week of gestation after distal conducting airways have 6 This mechanism is similar to the insult that results in congenital intestinal atresia. 7 The concurrence of a bronchogenic cyst and bronchial atresia in this case supports the second theory which suggests that atresia occurs earlier at around the fifth week of gestation, when bronchogenic cysts also develop.…”

Congenital lung malformations: radiological findings and clues for differential diagnosis

“…Other congenital malformations, such as lobar emphysema, bronchial atresia, or sequestration may also be present ( Fig. 7) (24,25). In adults, mediastinal cysts may be asymptomatic and found incidentally or they can compress the trachea, bronchi, and esophagus, resulting in wheezing, stridor, dyspnea, dysphagia, repeated pneumonia, or obstructive lung hyperinflation.…”