Bronchopulmonary dysplasia: a radiographic and clinical review of 20 patients.

This paper reviews the radiological features of 20 infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, with particular emphasis on the early radiological findings in these infants, the clinical findings and radiological progression. Of 20 infants, eight had idiopathic respiratory distress in the first week of life, two infants had early radiological abnormalities other than idiopathic respiratory distress and 10 infants had normal initial chest radiographs. The complicating features included lower respiratory infections (88%), patent ductus arteriosus (40%) and areas of atelectasis (40%). Areas of atelectasis were more common in infants with an initially normal chest radiograph than in those with idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome (p = 0.015). Mortality from severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia was 70% in this series.