Kartagener syndrome with abnormalities of cilia

Kartagener syndrome of sinusitis, bronchiectasis and situs inversus has been so called since his classical description in 1933. This report presents two further cases, a brother and sister. They were extensively studied and the findings are reported. A unique finding was that in both patients, both in the maxillary sinuses and in the bronchi, abnormal cilia were discovered on electron microscopy. After a search of the literature the authors conclude that this finding is probably congenital rather than acquired and may explain the development of the sinusitis and bronchiectasis.