Right-Sided Congenital Diaphragmatic Eventration in a Neonate: Diagnostic Laterality and the Role of Advanced Imaging

Congenital diaphragmatic eventration (CDE) is a rare pathology characterized by elevation of the hemidiaphragm resulting from abnormal development of diaphragmatic musculature. Its clinical and radiographic presentation can closely mimic more common and more immediately dangerous neonatal conditions. Although the reported laterality of CDE varies among published series, we present a male neonate with respiratory distress initially suspected to have congenital pneumonia or sepsis who was subsequently diagnosed with right-sided CDE. Diagnosis was established after escalation of imaging techniques, requiring high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the chest to distinguish CDE from other pathologies. The patient was initially managed medically; however, surgical intervention was required to correct the underlying cause. This case addresses the importance of advanced cross-sectional imaging techniques in accurately identifying CDE and its laterality, thereby distinguishing it from its more common mimics.