PULMONARY HYPOPLASIA PRESENTED IN ADULTHOOD AS A CHRONIC RESPIRATORY-FAILURE - REPORT OF 2 CASES - EMBRYOLOGY, CLINICAL SYMPTOMS AND DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES

We report 2 cases of pulmonary hypoplasia diagnosed in adulthood prese nting clinically as chronic respiratory failure. Both patients met cri teria for chronic bronchitis and had shown repeated respiratory infect ions and increasing dyspnoea. The spirometry showed a severe non-defin ed ventilatory disturbance and the arterial blood gases showed the pre sence of marked hypoxaemia. The altered chest X-ray, arterial blood ga ses and spirometry had been attributed to chronic bronchitis. The CT s can was instrumental in establishing the diagnosis of pulmonary hypopl asia.