Bronchial atresia as an incidental chest CT finding: a case report.

Abstract

Bronchial atresia corresponds to a congenital anomaly of the airways, in which a bronchial segment presents a focal obstruction. As a result, there are mucoid impactions with or without bronchocele, resulting in air trapping and distention of the lung parenchyma. In the present study, we report the case of a patient incidentally diagnosed with bronchial atresia when undergoing chest computed tomography after performing thoracic sympathectomy as a treatment for palmoplantar hyperhidrosis. Classically, the diagnosis is made incidentally with an asymptomatic patient, but cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, hemoptysis, chest pain, or pneumothorax may be present. There is still no established consensus on the treatment of this pathology, but in asymptomatic patients, the usual approach is conservative, with outpatient follow-up.

Keywords

• bronchial atresia
• congenital anomaly
• incidental discoveries
• pulmonology
• thoracic surgery