LOCALIZED PNEUMOTHORAX WITH LOBAR COLLAPSE AND DIFFUSE OBSTRUCTIVE AIRWAY DISEASE

Localized pneumothorax adjacent to a collapsed lobe has been reported in children with bronchial obstruction. We present our findings in sev en children with a similar phenomenon occurring in association with di ffuse obstructive airway disease. The children, aged from 3 weeks to 1 7 years, were admitted for diffuse obstructive airway disease and, sub sequently, developed lobar collapse with adjacent localized pneumothor ax. In five of the seven patients there was a paradoxical shift of the mediastinum toward the side of the pneumothorax. In six cases, the pn eumothorax resolved spontaneously with lobar reexpansion. A conservati ve treatment approach to patients with this constellation of radiograp hic findings appears justified.