Kartagener syndrome with abnormalities of cilia

Abstract

Kartagener syndrome of sinusitis, bronchiectasis and situs inversus has been so called since his classical description in 1933. This report presents two further cases, a brother and sister. They were extensively studied and the findings are reported. A unique finding was that in both patients, both in the maxillary sinuses and in the bronchi, abnormal cilia were discovered on electron microscopy. After a search of the literature the authors conclude that this finding is probably congenital rather than acquired and may explain the development of the sinusitis and bronchiectasis.