[X-ray differential diagnosis of unilateral pulmonary emphysematous expansion in newborn and babies (author's transl)].

The article discusses the x-ray signs seen in 14 babies with unilateral emphysematous expansion. 7 of these infants had a lobar emphysema without any defect of the bronchial cartilage, whereas two had pulmonary cysts, one suffered from a congenital cystic adenomatoid pulmonary malformation, and one infant had been suffering from lymphangiectasy; in all cases, successful lobectomy had been performed. One patient with pneumatocele, one with a left-side agenesia of the upper lobe and one with a transient obstruction of the bronchi by a mucous plug, were given conservative treatment. The article discusses the x-ray differentiation of the following disturbances: pneumothorax, diaphragmatic hernia, compensatory and obstructive emphysematous expansion of a pulmonary lobe, cystic changes in the lung, and lobar emphysema, although this does not offer any possibility of discovering the reason for its occurrence. Attention is drawn to the diagnostic value of bronchoscopy and bronchography, as well as angiography, especially in case of suspected vascular malformation.