Bronchial atresia associated with a bronchogenic cyst. Evidence of early appearance of atretic segments.

We report a case of congenital lobar emphysema in an adult due to bronchial atresia and presenting characteristically with a solitary pulmonary nodule due to a mucous plug. In the same patient the presence of a bronchogenic cyst leads to a hypothesis that the atretic segment is the result of an insult occurring during the 5th or 6th week of intrauterine life rather than one occurring after airway development is complete.