Abstract
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.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: November 21, 2008
Accepted:
May 12,
2008
Received in revised form:
May 8,
2008
Received:
March 25,
2008
Identification
Copyright
© 2011 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
