A Case of Round Atelectasis and a Review of the Literature in Japan

• Published in: Nihon Kyōbu Shikkan Gakkai zasshi Vol. 26; no. 3; pp. 248 - 252
• Main Authors: Kohiyama, Ritsu, Suzuki, Akira, Kamei, Katsuhiko, Nakano, Hiroyasu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japan The Japanese Respiratory Society 01.03.1988
• Subjects: Aged; Bronchography; Comet tail sign; Humans; Localized pleural thicknings; Male; Pulmonary Atelectasis - diagnostic imaging; Round atelectasis
• ISSN: 0301-1542; 1883-471X
• DOI: 10.11389/jjrs1963.26.248

A case of round atelectasis was reported. A 75 year-old male was admitted to our hospital for detailed examinations of a mass shadow recognized on the chest X-ray film. He had no respiratory symptoms. On the chest X-ray film, a round shadow, which was in contact with localized thickening of the pleura, was seen in the dorsal area of the right lower lobe. On bronchography, convergent bronchi entered the mass shadow from below. The pathological examination only showed non specific-inflammatory process. As a result, a diagnosis of round atelectasis was made and the case was discharged without thoracotomy. In Japan only fourteen cases (including our case) of round atelectasis have been reported in the literature. All but one were male and the age was between 36 and 77 (average 61). Ten of these cases had no compliants. The lesion were located in lower lobes of the lung except one case in the right upper lobe. The chest X-ray film showed the so-called “comet-tail sign” and localized pleural thickening, so these two roentgenographic signs were thought to be diagnostic features of round atelectasis. In addition to the importance of chest X-ray film, the usefullness of bronchography was emphasized in order to make an accurate diagnosis of this lesion and to avoid unnecessary thoracotomy.