Although it is not uncommon in bronchoesophagological practice to be consulted in cases of unexplained atelectasis, patients presenting with painful atelectasis are indeed rare. Three such cases will be described. The first case, previously unreported, for which Dr. M. E. Avery suggested the term “pulmonary migraine” is that of a 14-year-old Caucasian female with a history of recurrent “asthma,” chest pain, atelectasis and migraine headache. On investigation there was demonstrable spastic obliteration of the lumen of a lobar bronchus. Two similar cases are described.
