[Bronchopulmonary dysplasia: X-ray patterns and grading according to stages (author's transl)].

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia, first described by Northway in 1967 as a separate entity, was graded into four stages. Basing on thoracic x-ray films of 14 newborn and prematurely born infants an attempt has been made to analyse the x-ray patterns of signs characterising bronchopulmonary dysplasia and to establish a relation between the x-ray signs and the four stages. With few exceptions the various radiologic signs were seen in all stages, although with varying incidence. It follows that x-ray visualisation of the thorax yields limited pointers only to the actual stage of the disease. Roentgenography is the method of choice (in connection with the pattern of clinical signs) for diagnosing bronchopulmonary dysplasia and should be also employed for controlling the course of the disease and for the identification of eventual complications.