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Book

Swyer-James-MacLeod Syndrome

Anna Behrendt  1 , Yi Lee  2
In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan.
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Book

Swyer-James-MacLeod Syndrome

Anna Behrendt et al.
Free Books & Documents

Excerpt

Swyer-James-MacLeod syndrome (SJMS), also known as Swyer-James syndrome or hyperlucent lung syndrome, is an uncommon syndrome of unilateral functional hypoplasia of the pulmonary vasculature and emphysema, with or without associated bronchiectasis. The condition was first described simultaneously in the 1950s by a respiratory physician William Mathieson Macleod in England (1954), and by a physician Paul Robert Swyer and a radiologist George James in Canada (1953).

This rare lung condition is characterized by the radiographic hyperlucent appearance of a single pulmonary lobe or the entire lung. It is considered to arise as a postinfectious complication of bronchiolitis obliterans in childhood.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: Anna Behrendt declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Yi Lee declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

References

    1. Ohri SK, Rutty G, Fountain SW. Acquired segmental emphysema: the enlarging spectrum of Swyer-James/Macleod's syndrome. Ann Thorac Surg. 1993 Jul;56(1):120-4. - PubMed
    1. Lucaya J, Gartner S, García-Peña P, Cobos N, Roca I, Liñan S. Spectrum of manifestations of Swyer-James-MacLeod syndrome. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 1998 Jul-Aug;22(4):592-7. - PubMed
    1. MACLEOD WM. Abnormal transradiancy of one lung. Thorax. 1954 Jun;9(2):147-53. - PMC - PubMed
    1. SWYER PR, JAMES GC. A case of unilateral pulmonary emphysema. Thorax. 1953 Jun;8(2):133-6. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Cumming GR, Macpherson RI, Chernick V. Unilateral hyperlucent lung syndrome in children. J Pediatr. 1971 Feb;78(2):250-60. - PubMed

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