Misdiagnosis of Swyer-James-Macleod Syndrome as Pulmonary Embolism Leading to a Complication of Extrapulmonary and Rectus Sheath Hematomas-A Case Report

The Swyer-James-Macleod syndrome is one of the causes of unilateral hyperlucent lung. It is thought to be a post-infective form of bronchiolitis obliterans following a lower respiratory tract infection in early childhood. It is comprised principally of hyperlucency, a deficient blood supply, and decreased ventilation in the affected lung, and is sometimes associated with focal bronchiectasis. We present the case of a 61-year-old woman afflicted with Swyer-James-Macleod syndrome that was misdiagnosed as a pulmonary embolism by a cardiovascular surgeon in another hospital. Hemoptysis and severe extrapulmonary hematoma occurred after treatment with anti-coagulants. The literature concerning the differential diagnosis of unilateral hyperlucency on chest X-ray is also reviewed.