Bubbly and cystic appearance in chronic lung disease: Is this diagnosed as Wilson-Mikity syndrome?

Wilson-Mikity syndrome (WMS) was first reported in 1960 by Wilson and Mikity. They described preterm infants who developed areas of cystic emphysema in the first month of life with subsequent progression to chronic lung disease (CLD) of infancy, although these infants did not exhibit early respiratory distress, such as respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). This condition was widely accepted over the next 20 years, but WMS is now rarely mentioned and is commonly considered an anachronism. In Japan, CLD is classified into six types according to the presence of RDS and/or intrauterine inflammation and appearance on chest X-ray. One type of CLD (type III, which accounts for 13.5% of all CLD) is defined as history of intrauterine inflammation and the typical bubbly and cystic appearance on chest X-ray described in the original report of WMS. There is insufficient evidence to determine whether WMS exists or whether WMS is relatively common only in Japan and not in other countries. It is important, however, to distinguish this type of CLD from other types because the strategy for the prevention or treatment of CLD should be different according to its origin, cause, and risk factors.