Swyer-James Syndrome After Severe Pulmonary Infection Caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Abstract

A 12-year-old female developed Swyer-James syndrome with a unilateral hyperlucent lung following a severe pulmonary infection with Mycoplasma pneumoniae. A chest radiograph taken 2 years previously showed no difference in radiolucency between left and right lungs. As far as we know, this is the second reported case of this syndrome secondary to a Mycoplasma pulmonary infection. ¹³³Xe inhalation showed delayed washout of the isotope from the left lung, 99mTc-MAA perfusion scintigraphy showed a deficit of blood flow in left middle and lower lung fields, and ^81mKr inhalation suggested nonfunctioning lung in the left lingular division and lower lobe. Such combined ventilation and perfusion scintigraphic imaging appears to be a very useful and safe diagnostic procedure in this syndrome. Patients suffering from severe Mycoplasma pulmonary infections should be monitored by chest x-ray and lung function tests following recovery from the acute disease.