Swyer-James Syndrome: Disappearance of Gigantic Bullae and Pulmonary Function Improvement After Infectious Episode

Abstract

Swyer-James syndrome is an acquired pulmonary disease following bronchiolitis obliterans in young aged children, in which characteristic unilateral hyperlucence radiologically. Frequently there are repeated pulmonary infections which cause bacterial pneumonia and bronchiectasis. It is reported no definite cause of the disease is revealed but in most cases it is thought to be inflammation and destruction of bronchioles after severe pneumonia, and it is related to measles, pertussis, tuberculosis, adenovirus, mycoplasma pneumonia, foreign body aspiration and radiation therapy. Mostly it is diagnosed at early childhood, however the detection can be delayed until later ages in asymptomatic ones. Swyer-James syndrome is a very rare disease and furthermore it is much rare to be detected in adults. Here we report a case of the disappearance of pre-existing gigantic bullae and improvement of pulmonary function in patient having Swyer-James syndrome of 65-year-old male after recovery from infected bullae with relevant literature reviews.




J Med Cases. 2013;4(1):19-21
doi: https://doi.org/10.4021/jmc768w