[A case of Swyer-James syndrome--a morphological study with inflated fixed lung]

Morphological features of Swyer-James syndrome were studied in a specimen obtained during left pneumonectomy. A 67-year-old woman was admitted because her left lung was hyperlucent and contained a solitary nodule. Primary lung adenocarcinoma complicated with Swyer-James syndrome was diagnosed, and left pneumonectomy done. The left upper lobe was inflated and fixed for morphological study. The volume of the specimen was obviously lower than normal but the bronchial branching was normal. Macroscopically, the specimen had irregular bronchial walls, bronchiectatic changes, and dilation of distal air spaces, similar to panlobular emphysema. Microscopically, there was scarring in periarteriolar regions that suggested bronchiolitis obliterans, enlargement of distal airspaces, and an abnormally low number of capillaries. These findings suggest hypoplasia of the lung due to abnormal lung growth after birth.