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Left lung aplasia

Case contributed by Maxime St-Amant
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Newborn with respiratory distress.

Patient Data

Age: Neonate
Gender: Male

Chest

x-ray

White left lung with diffuse interstitial opacity and hyperexpansion of the right lung. The trachea is deviated to the left, as is the cardiac silhouette, suggesting collapse of the left lung with mediastinal shift toward it. 

Chest

ct

CT-scan confirms the left lung aplasia. There is a subtle left bronchial remnant. Absence of the left pulmonary artery. 

Case Discussion

The patient was also known for multiple congenital cardiac malformations, including total anomalous pulmonary venous return, interatrial communication and double inferior vena cava.

CT-scan confirms left lung agenesis with ipsilateral deviation of the heart and hyperinflation of the right lung. Moreover, between the X-ray and this examination, the patient had a sternotomy for correction of TAPVR. However, in this examination, the pulmonary veins still drain into the right atrium. The patient is known for many other malformations. Pulmonary parenchyma is within normal limits.

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