Developmental defects of the lungs

Poor lung development was first noted on scintigraphy using 99mTc-phytate in 32 children. They had all been referred for a hepatosplenic scan but the initial circulatory phase of the radiopharmaceutical was also recorded as a routine procedure. In 3 patients it revealed aplasia of an entire lung; bilateral pulmonary hypoplasia was observed in 14 of 16 patients with diaphragmatic herniae. Six patients with congenital heart enlargement showed a poorly developed ipsilateral lung; 5 of 6 patients with dextrocardia without an intracardiac defect had a larger left lung compared with the right lung; both pulmonary beds appeared equal in a patient with mesocardia.