Swyer-James-Macleod Syndrome presentating as pneumothorax

Abstract

Swyer-James-MacLeod Syndrome is a rare form of post-infectious bronchiolitis obliterans, characterized by unilateral lung hyperlucency due to loss of pulmonary vasculature and alveolar hyperdistention, in the absence of main bronchial obstruction. It is an exclusion diagnosis, usually suspected on chest x-ray and confirmed by high resolution lung computerized tomography. The clinical course and prognosis are influenced by the presence of underlying bronchiectasis and treatment is generally conservative. The authors report a rare clinical case complicated with bilateral apical blebs and bronchiectasis, presenting as a tension pneumothorax. In the light of this index patient, we discuss specific literature review. Keywords: Hyperlucent lung, Swyer-James syndrome, MacLeod syndrome, Bronchiolitis obliterans