Tuberc Respir Dis.  1988 Sep;35(3):194-199. 10.4046/trd.1988.35.3.194.

A Clinical Study of Middle Lobe Syndrome

• KMID: 2528603
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.1988.35.3.194

Abstract

Forty two cases of middle lobe syndrome who had been hospitalized between 1980 and 1987 were reviewed by clinical, radiological, bacteriological, histopathologic and bronchoscopic presentation. 1n our study, tuberculosis (45%) was the main cause and the remaining were pneumonia (24%), bronchiectasis (19%) and malignant tumor (7%). The chief complaints of the patients in order were coughing, chest discomfort, dyspnea and hemoptysis. By bronchoscopic examination, 55% of the cases demonstrated well preserved bronchial lumens, which strongly suggest that impairment of collateral ventilation is the main pathological change of middle lobe syndrome. The remaining 45% showed narrowing or complete obstruction of right middle lobe bronchus. The follow up study showed more favorable prognosis in pneumonia and bronchiectasis than tuberculosis or malignancy.