An incidental image of a patient with chest pain after fall from a tree: Swyer-James-MacLeod syndrome?

Unilateral hyperlucent lung was firstly described by Swyer and James 1950s. After that, some patients with same disease were detected by Macleod . Then this syndrome was named as Swyer- James-Macleod syndrome (SJMS), and this syndrome includes a smaller or normal sized unilateral hyperlucent lung. The diagnosis of SJMS includes a detailed evaluation and the exclusion of other reasons of unilateral hypertranslucency. In literature, small groups of patients with this syndrome have been described. This paper reports a 45-year-old male presented to our emergency department with chest pain after fall from height 24 h ago. In his computed tomography no rib fracture, pneumothorax and hemothorax. But an abnormal image (5.5 cm hyperlucent area) was seen in his left lung. This report aims to present one of incidentally diagnosed rare case of SJMS.

Swyer-James-Macleod Syndrome: A Rare Entity.

Swyer-James-MacLeod syndrome is a radiological entity characterised by hyperlucency of one or more lobes or of the entire lung associated with decreased number and diameter of ipsilateral peripheral pulmonary vessels resulting in difficult visibility of the arterial network, and unobstructed bronchial system. We report the case of a 12-year-old girl who presented with chief complaint of pain in the chest. Chest radiograph (postero-anterior view) showed hyperlucent left lung field with increased lung volume and shift of the mediastinum to the right side. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) of the chest showed hyperlucency and diminished vascularity in the upper lobe and lingula of left lung with hyperinflation of the pulmonary parenchyma. On the basis of clinical and radiological findings, the patient was diagnosed to have Swyer-James-MacLeod syndrome.

Swyer-James-Macleod syndrome mimicking pulmonary embolism in adults: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Swyer-James-MacLeod syndrome (SJMS) is a rare lung condition characterized by a unilateral lung hyperlucency and reduction in the pulmonary vasculature, with or without the presence of bronchiectasis. In the 1950s, Swyer, James, and Macleod simultaneously characterized the syndrome for the first time. It is typically diagnosed in childhood. Adult-onset cases are extremely rare, with little literature available on its clinical presentation and diagnostic challenges. Swyer-James-MacLeod syndrome can mimic other lung disorders, resulting in misdiagnosis and improper treatment. CASE PRESENTATION: A 49- year-old woman from Debre Berhan, Ethiopia, presented to the emergency department of Hakim Gizaw Teaching Hospital with symptoms and radiographic findings mimicking acute pulmonary embolism. On the basis of the clinical presentation and radiographic findings, the patient was first treated as a probable case of pulmonary embolism. Anticoagulant therapy and oxygen support were initiated. Nevertheless, additional testing using a chest computed tomography angiography revealed left lung hyperlucency, decreased vascularity, bronchiectasis, and a negative result for pulmonary embolism. As a result, Swyer-James-MacLeod syndrome was diagnosed. CONCLUSION: The symptoms of Swyer-James-MacLeod syndrome can be mistaken for pulmonary embolism, which could lead to ineffective treatment and needless expenses. In individuals presenting with symptoms suggestive of pulmonary embolism, this case emphasizes the significance of considering Swyer-James-MacLeod syndrome as a differential diagnosis, especially in the absence of established risk factors for pulmonary embolism.

Swyer-James-MacLeod Syndrome in a Patient with Eisenmenger Syndrome.

Swyer-James-MacLeod syndrome is characterized radiologically by hyperlucency in a single lung lobe, accompanied by reduced vascularity, alveolar hyperdistention, and air trapping, without bronchial airway obstruction. The most common congenital heart defect in childhood, ventricular septal defect, leads to irreversible pulmonary hypertension and Eisenmenger syndrome if not treated promptly. This case report presents a 25-year-old patient with Swyer-James-MacLeod syndrome and Eisenmenger syndrome. It is crucial to include Swyer-James-MacLeod syndrome in the differential diagnosis of patients with atypically distributed pulmonary emphysema and unilateral hyperlucency for early diagnosis and timely intervention.

The vanishing lung: an important cause of hyperlucency on chest radiograph.

Giant bullous emphysema is an uncommon condition characterised by large asymmetric bullae with upper lobe predominance. This condition is most frequent in young male smokers. Patients usually present with progressive breathlessness which is secondary to enlargement of the bullae leading to compression of the lung parenchyma. Large asymmetrical bullae may appear as a unilateral hyperlucency on a plain chest radiograph, and may mimic the appearances of pneumothorax. A computed tomography scan is needed to delineate the lung pathology. We describe two cases with this condition that presented acutely and discuss the management of bullous emphysema.

Swyer-James syndrome diagnosed in a trauma patient.

BACKGROUND: Swyer-James syndrome is a relatively rare pulmonary manifestation of prior childhood lung infection that results in hypoplastic lung with small-caliber bronchi and pulmonary vasculature. It appears as increased opacity on chest X-ray study and can be confused for other thoracic disease processes. CASE REPORT/OBJECTIVES: We present the confusing case of Swyer-James syndrome presenting in a trauma patient after a fall from 12 feet. The literature will be reviewed in regards to incidence, diagnosis, and management. CONCLUSIONS: Swyer-James syndrome occurs in < 0.01% of patients and is the result of usually recurrent childhood infections resulting in hypoplastic lung. It has classically been diagnosed with typical chest X-ray findings in the absence of obstructing lesions. More recently, diagnosis has been made by computed tomography. Management of the syndrome is typically conservative, with prevention and early treatment of pulmonary disease and, occasionally, resection for recalcitrant disease. In the presence of trauma, increased lung density on frontal chest X-ray study can be misconstrued as resulting from the trauma itself. This case outlines the need for emergency and trauma physicians to be cognizant of other etiologies of abnormal chest X-ray studies and to follow appropriate clinical pathways when working-up patients for chest trauma.

[Increased transparency in thin-slice computed tomography of lung parenchyma]. / Vermehrte Transparenz in der Dünnschicht-CT des Lungenparenchyms.

Areas with reduced density are a common finding with thin-slice computed tomography (CT) examinations of lung parenchyma. Diffuse and localized patterns can be differentiated. The most frequent cause for a diffuse decrease in density is pulmonary emphysema which can be classified into centrilobular, panlobular and paraseptal emphysema based on the distinct anatomical features. A mosaic pattern (due to mosaic perfusion or air trapping) is also characterized by a diffuse decrease in density. Focal cystic changes can be differentiated from emphysematous changes and mosaic patterns which do not reveal wall structures. Langerhans cell histiocytosis and lymphangioleiomyomatosis are the most frequent cystic diseases of the lung parenchyma. Based on the geometry and anatomical distribution of the cysts a differentiation is mostly possible. Rare diseases leading to a reduced lung density include the Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome, lymphoid interstitial pneumonia as well as congenital diseases or diseases which are acquired during early childhood, such as cystic adenomatoid malformation or Swyer-James syndrome.

Incidental Diagnosis of Swyer-James-MacLeod Syndrome in a Military Pilot.

BACKGROUND: Swyer-James-MacLeod syndrome (SJMS) is a specific form of bronchiolitis obliterans that occurs rarely, but represents recognized sequelae of common pediatric respiratory illness, and presents as unilateral hyperlucency on chest imaging. This case study describes such an incidental radiographic finding identified during the assessment of chest wall discomfort in a military pilot.CASE REPORT: A 35-yr-old military pilot presented to his flight surgeon with vague intermittent chest discomfort. Initial evaluation revealed an abnormal chest radiograph with unilateral hyperlucency and mild expiratory airflow limitation on pulmonary function testing. The evaluation also included computed tomography imaging with contrast infusion and echocardiography, though the presenting complaint had resolved. The airman was referred to our clinic for further evaluation and aeromedical recommendations regarding returning to flight duties. He was diagnosed with SJMS and recommended to be returned to flight duties.DISCUSSION: SJMS can be challenging to recognize to the untrained eye. An inflammatory response from viral or bacterial infection in childhood results in dysfunctional growth of the affected region of the lung, causing radiographic asymmetry. Although destruction of the alveoli and emphysema may occur, for most cases, there are minimal clinical sequelae. SJMS is not known to be progressive and is not associated with systemic conditions. The pilot likely had the abnormal chest radiograph at the time of commission and had not experienced any in-flight complications. His chest pain had resolved without intervention and SJMS was determined to be unlikely to impact his flight performance (such as response to supplemental oxygen) or life expectancy.Harrison MF, Cowl CT. Incidental diagnosis of Swyer-James-MacLeod syndrome in a military pilot. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2021; 92(4):281285.

Swyer-James-MacLeod syndrome and pulmonary arteriovenous malformations: a rare combination.

This case describes a female patient who presented with an acute on chronic deterioration in respiratory symptoms, on a background of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heavy cigarette smoking. Chest radiograph demonstrated long-standing hyperlucency of the right lower lobe, with further imaging later confirming the rare combination of Swyer-James-MacLeod syndrome and multiple pulmonary arteriovenous malformations within the affected lung.

[Hyperlucent lung syndrom caused by pulmonary artery hypoplasia in patient with diagnosed asthma--case report]. / Zespól jednostronnie jasnego pluca w przebiegu hipoplazji tetnicy plucnej u chorej z objawami astmy oskrzelowej--opis przypadku.

We present case of 67-years-old, non-smoking woman with unilateral hyperlucent lung syndrome. She has diagnosed asthma and since 1997 she has been treated with inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta-agonists without improvement. She complained of a cough, shortness of breath, pulmonary function test reveal irrvesibility airflow obstruction. The routine X-ray chest showed unilateral hyperlucent left lung. Ct-angiography has shown unilateral hypoplasia of pulmonary artery. It indicates that in all cases of uncontrolled asthma should be considered another or coexisting diagnosis.

Reporte de caso: hemoptisis masiva como manifestación clínica de un síndrome de Swyer-James-Mac Leod / Case report: massive hemoptysis as a clinical manifestation of Swyer-James-Mac Leod syndrome

El síndrome de Swyer-James-Mac Leod es una entidad poco frecuente adquirida en la infancia, generalmente tras una infección pulmonar moderada a grave de tipo bronquiolitis o neumonía, generalmente virales. Ocasionalmente se tiene el antecedente de infecciones repetidas de este tipo. Consiste en el desarrollo de enfisema hipoplásico pulmonar unilateral, que puede a veces relacionarse con bronquiectasias ipsilaterales o bilaterales, obstrucción fija al flujo aéreo y puede también asociarse a reducción del flujo sanguíneo del pulmón hipoplásico, de manera focal o difusa, con o sin tortuosidad de la vascularización proximal y a veces con una compensación del pulmón contralateral, en forma de sobredistensión e hiperflujo vascular relativo. Presentamos el caso de un varón de 79 años de edad con antecedentes de infecciones tipo bronquiolitis virales repetidas en la infancia, obstrucción fija grave al flujo aéreo y hemoptisis masiva secundaria a una infección por Pseudomonas aeruginosa sensible a la terapia antibiótica habitual.

Swyer-James-Mac Leod syndrome is a rare condition acquired in childhood, usually after a moderate to severe lung infection such as bronchiolitis or pneumonia, usually viral. Occasionally there is a history of repeated infections of this type. It consists of the development of unilateral pulmonary hypoplastic emphysema, which can sometimes be related to ipsilateral or bilateral bronchiectasis, fixed airflow obstruction, and may also be associated with reduced blood flow in the hypoplastic lung, with or without tortuosity of the proximal vascular supply and sometimes with compensation from the contralateral lung, in the form of overdistension and relative vascular hyperflow. We present the case of a 79-year-old man with a history of recurrent viral bronchiolitis-type infections in childhood, severe fixed airflow obstruction, and massive hemoptysis secondary to a Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection sensitive to usual antibiotic therapy.

Swyer-James-Macleod syndrome mimicking an acute pulmonary embolism: a report of six adult cases and a retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: In patients with pulmonary embolism (PE), a pulmonary radiograph may reveal oligemic fields (the Westermark sign) associated with sites of occlusion of the pulmonary arteries, interruption or loss of the artery line (the knuckle sign), and even unilateral hyperlucency attributable to reduced overall lung vascularity. In Swyer-James-Macleod syndrome (SJMS), which develops as a result of bronchiolitis obliterans, unilateral hyperlucency is evident because of emphysema and hypoplasia of the pulmonary artery and its branches. Therefore, SJMS cases with clinical and laboratory data compatible with PE may in fact be confused with PE. The cases of six adult patients who were initially presumed to have PE but on further investigation were diagnosed with SJMS are presented in this report, which thus can serve as a guide for diagnosis of similar cases in future. METHODS: We studied six adult patients who presented with dyspnea. Their pulmonary radiographs revealed lobar/unilateral hyperlucency and PE was initially suspected. The pulmonary artery and branches thereof exhibited parenchymal emphysema and hypoplasia, and we thus diagnosed SJMS. RESULTS: We studied 4 males and 2 females with a mean age of 51 years (range, 20-73 years). Left lung involvement was evident in five cases. CONCLUSION: Unilateral hyperlucency may be a feature of both PE and SJMS. Although these conditions are very different, both present similarly in radiographic terms and may be easily confused when the clinical data and the anamnesis raise a suspicion of PE, causing unnecessary testing and treatment.