Congenital lobar emphysema

Congenital lobar emphysema is a rare disorder thay may present outside the newborn period. It is generally best treated surgically by excision of the affected lobe. We describe a 6 1/2-week-old infant in whom the initial auscultatory and roentgenographic findings were confusing and of no help in making the diagnosis. The etiology of congenital lobar emphysema remains unclear.