Agenesis of the Lung and Patent Ductus Arteriosus with Reversal of Flow

Abstract

AGENESIS of a lung is a rare developmental defect that is usually not recognized until after death. In the majority of the 57 cases reported the diagnosis was made at autopsy.^{1 2 3} Before 1942 the diagnosis was made correctly before death in only 3 cases; since then it has been made in 18 living patients.^{1 2 3 4} The increased frequency of ante-mortem recognition is probably due to the wider use of bronchoscopy, bronchography and angiocardiography in the investigation of obscure pulmonary conditions.³ Pulmonary agenesis is commonly associated with congenital anomalies of other organs, including the heart.^{1 2 3} Its association with a patent ductus arteriosus, . . .