Bronchial atresia with mucocele in an adolescent girl: an uncommon cause of lobar emphysema.

Congenital bronchial atresia (CBA) is a congenital anomaly but is seldom diagnosed in children. They are usually asymptomatic and are found during screening chest radiographs in young adults. The characteristic chest radiographs of CBA consist of a hyperlucent lung, central branching but contrast non-enhancing mass and air-fluid lesion. Most of the cases reported in the past were managed surgically. The present study reported an 11-yr-old presenting with chest pains, exercise intolerance, and refractory wheezing. It is of utmost importance to consider the possibility of CBA in children with lobar emphysema in order to achieve early diagnosis and avoid unnecessary exploratory surgery.