Localized roentgenographic pattern of hyaline membrane disease. Evidence that the upper lobes of human lung mature earlier than the lower lobes.

Roentgenograms by the direct magnification technique were obtained in 3 premature infants with the clinical picture of hyaline membrane disease.In 2 infants the typical roentgenologic features of the disease were limited to the lower portions of the lung fields, while in the third patient a diffuse pattern was seen, but the upper lobes cleared faster than the lower lobes.It is postulated that the maturation of the lungs in the human fetus follows a pattern similar to that described in lambs and rabbits, i.e., the upper lobes mature earlier than the lower lobes of the lungs.