Adult presentation of asymptomatic right lung agenesis: a rare anatomical variation

Abstract

Pulmonary agenesis is a very rare congenital anomaly characterized by the absence of pulmonary parenchyma and its vasculature. The diagnosis is usually during childhood. Herein, we report a case of incidental discover right pulmonary agenesis in adulthood male. A 30-year-old male presented with pre-operative medical evaluation for varicocele. There was no complaining from respiratory symptoms. He underwent plain chest X-ray and post-contrast CT scanning was performed using 64 multi-detector CT scanner. Chest Plain X-ray revealed cardiac and mediastinal shift to right side with hyper-inflated left lung crosses to right side. Multi-detector computed tomography examination revealed total absence of right lung with compensatory hyperinflation and increase volume of left lung. Hyper-inflated left lung extended to right hemithorax. Mediastinal structures including heart and great vessels were displaced to middle and lower parts of right hemithorax. Descending aorta located to anterior to thoracic vertebrae. Right pulmonary artery was absent. Right main bronchus was rudimentary. No detected other organ anomalies. No detected bony thoracic cage abnormalities.

Keywords: Congenital; Lung agenesis; Pulmonary artery.