Congenital lobar emphysema.

Congenital lobar emphysema is reported occurring in a 10 day old, low birth weight infant. Following resection, gross examination of the affected lobe revealed collapsed but unobstructed bronchi, suggesting a cartilaginous defect. The specimen was insufflated with formalin and the bronchial tree dissected out. Histological study including comparison with a normal pulmonary lobe, confirms that abnormalities of cartilage may be important in the pathogenesis of congenital lobar emphysema.