[Congenital unilateral malformations of lung referred as bronchial foreign bodies].

Objective: To investigate the resemblances and differences of congenital unilateral malformations of lung and bronchial foreign bodies in clinical manifestation, physical sign and radiological examination, and to summarize the characteristics and to introduce diagnostic methods of the congenital unilateral malformations of lung.

Method: Ten patients with the congenital unilateral malformation of lung, who were diagnosed the pulmonary atelectasis or the bronchial foreign body initially, were analyzed. Three typical cases were analyzed in details.

Result: Four patients were confirmed by rigid bronchoscope. Four patients were confirmed by X-ray and high resolution CT of lung, one patient by high- resolution CT and 3D stereographs of lung, one patient by autopsy. Six cases were the congenital malformations of the right lung and 4 cases were the left lung. Three cases of them combined with congenital cardiovascular diseases and other malformations.

Conclusion: There are many resemblances between the congenital unilateral malformation of lung and the bronchial foreign body in clinical manifestation and physical sign. The congenital unilateral malformation of lung was referred as the bronchial foreign body easily. Although it can be confirmed by rigid bronchoscope, the risk of the operation for these children was very high. So if the disease was considered, high resolution CT and 3D -stereographs of lung can make a definite diagnosis.