Congenital unilateral pulmonary hypoplasia

Authors report twelve patients who presented unilateral diminished lung volume on chest x-ray and analyze ECG, bronchography, lung scan and angiography performed in this patients. Based on these data and following classification proposed by CURRARINO they divide patients in groups: 1) Simple lung hypoplasia, seven cases, four of these were of the left side. 2) Absence of one pulmonary artery, two cases. 3) Scimitar syndrome, three cases. Eleven patients have remained free of significant symptoms. Authors believe that diagnostic work-up of a patient with unilateral diminished lung volume on chest x-ray should depend on clinical symptoms and possibility of surgical treatment. Therapeutic approach will depend on clinical and anatomic findings.