Bilateral pulmonary agenesis: association with the hydrolethalus syndrome and review of the literature from a developmental field perspective.

ABSTRACT

Only a few cases of bilateral pulmonary agenesis have been reported. Recently we saw such a case in an infant with the hydrolethalus syndrome. This observation seems to indicate that bilateral pulmonary agenesis is a severe expression of a developmental field defect that usually is represented by abnormal lung lobation or hypoplasia. The previously reported cases are discussed from the perspective of the developmental field concept.