[A case report of congenital bronchial atresia--a review of 43 cases in Japan].

Our case is a 20 years old man. An abnormal mass shadow and emphysematous lesion were found in the left S3 segment on a chest roentgenogram. A bronchogram revealed a left B3 defect. A complete obstruction of the left B3 bronchi covered with normal mucosa was found with a bronchoscopy. Since the patients suffered repeated respiratory infection, a left S3 segmentectomy was performed. Histological examination showed emphysematous change and the normally developed bronchi containing ciliated epithelium and cartilage. We found that, including this case, there are altogether 44 cases of congenital bronchial atresia in Japan. The literature of those cases was reviewed and discussed.