Q) Discuss role of Radiology in repeated non-resolving pulmonary infection.

A: Frequent pneumonia in a child should raise suspicion of any congenital anatomical/functional pulmonary abnormality or immunocompromised status. Even after adequate therapy, these pneumonias fail to be cured. Then correlation with serial radiographs is essential.

Repeated RTI are known to occur with heart diseases, cystic fibrosis, asthma, repeated aspirations due to gastro-oesophageal reflux, collagen vascular diseases etc. Pulmonary sequestration may present as a mass or with high output failure due to (L)-(R) shunt. Sequestration represents a segment of lung with no developmental connection with tracheobronchial tree. This is a part of bronchopulmonary foregut malformation. Extralobar sequestrations contained in a separate pleural envelope (60% are seen in children <1 year of age ) are more common in a child. Diaphragmatic hernia & congenital heart disease are other associated abnormalities.

Extralobar sequestration

Last updated on 7-03-2001