[Diagnosis and course of congenital lobar emphysema].

Within 20 years 22 children with congenital lobar emphysema were observed. 13 children were infants, 9 were already older than a year, thus, clearly deviating from the age structure reported in literature. 15 children underwent an operation, in 2 children the alterations disappeared completely respectively partially. One child prematurely born died before operation. The upper lobe was concerned most frequently (11 times), followed by the right upper lobe (6 times) and the right middle lobe (4 times). Bronchoscopy was showing in surprising frequency a stenosis of the trachea (2 times) respectively of the main bronchus (7 times). In 13 of 15 cases bronchographically investigated the displacement and compression of the adjacent lobar bronchi were predominant. The regression of the emphysema observed in a x-ray picture series initially with an "opaque lung" and later on with spontaneous disappearance of the lobar emphysema is more fully described. In the opinion of the authors the analysis of their cases is justifying a change in the conception concerning age structure and urgency of surgery. Bronchological examination is considered of importance for differential diagnostics especially to delimit cystic pulmonary alteration.