1 Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pulmonology, New York Medical College Valhalla, NY 10595
2 Department of Radiology, New York Medical College Valhalla, NY 10595
3 Department of Pediatric Surgery, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595
4 Department of Surgery, New York Medical College Valhalla, NY 10595
5 Department of Pathology, New York Medical College Valhalla, NY 10595
Congenital pleural effusions are uncommon. The majority of cases are due to chylothorax, hydropsfetalis, and infection. Effusions of this nature are, for the most part, self-limited. When these factors are eliminated, an extensive evaluation seeking uncommon causes needs to be performed. We present a rare case of a congenital unilateral pleural effusion due to an extralobar sequestration with pulmonary lymphangiectasia.
CASE REPORT
M.T. was a female born to a 35-year-old woman G1P0 at 34 weeks gestation by caesarean section as a result of fetal bradycardia. The mother developed gestational diabetes and hypertension during pregnancy, requiring insulin, nifedipine, and methyldopa. A third trimester ultrasound performed at 29 weeks gestation revealed a left pleural effusion.
Submitted on January 27, 1995