Pulmonary Sequestration Masquerading as Pulmonary Abscess

Pulmonary sequestration is a rare congenital condition wherein a nonfunctional lung segment, arising separately from the true lung bud, develops within the chest cavity but lacks communication with the tracheobronchial tree or pulmonary arterial supply. While this condition is typically diagnosed in children, our case highlights its relevance in adults. We present a 37-year-old male who presented with shortness of breath and was initially diagnosed with a pulmonary abscess. A careful review of CT imaging, particularly noting the vascular supply to abnormal pulmonary lesions, led to the diagnosis of infected pulmonary sequestration. This abnormality had been noted previously, but the patient was unaware of the finding, leaving him at risk of infection and subsequent hospitalization. Although this can be a benign and incidental finding on imaging, this case emphasizes the need for appropriate diagnosis, patient education, and appropriate follow-up to avoid future complications.