Middle lobe syndrome revealing Broncholithiasis: A Case Report

Middle lobe syndrome is a rare but important clinical entity worth investigating in local obstructive or inflammatory cause. One of its rare etiologies is broncholithiasis. We report the observation of a young female patient who presented with recurrent hemoptysis. Chest CT scan showed atelectasis of the middle lobe and suggested the diagnosis of broncholithiasis by objectifying, within the collapsed lobe, a calcification located in the bronchial lumen. Bronchial fibroscopy was of little help. Recurrent hemoptysis and doubt about pulmonary neoplasia led to a diagnostic and therapeutic lobectomy. In front of MLS, broncholithiasis should be suspected in the presence of calcifications on imaging. Surgery may be required in case of uncertain cases to not ignore an underlying tumor.

Middle lobe syndrome: a rare presentation of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a disease predominantly seen in susceptible asthmatic subjects, due to a hypersensitivity phenomenon caused by colonisation of the airways by Aspergillus species. Although collapse, both lobar and segmental due to mucoid impaction, is not uncommon in ABPA, a middle lobe syndrome (MLS) secondary to ABPA is rather an uncommon association. We report this rare and unusual clinical presentation in a 36-year-old male, who presented for evaluation of a "non resolving pneumonia". Imaging suggested the presence of a MLS and central bronchiectasis. Further investigations revealed that the patient met 6/8 of the essential diagnostic criteria for ABPA. Appropriate therapy with oral corticosteroids resulted in remarkable symptomatic improvement.

[A case of primary Sjögren's syndrome presenting with middle lobe syndrome complicated by nontuberculous mycobacteriosis]

A 52-year-old woman was found to have abnormal shadows in her chest radiograph in a health examination. At the age of 47 middle lobe syndrome had been pointed out and Mycobacterium intracellulare had been cultured from her sputum. Chest computed tomography scans showed a coin lesion and bronchiectasis in the middle lobe. On the other hand she suffered xerostomia and had a high level of serum anti-SS-A antibody. Further examination of her eyes and mouth gave her a diagnosis of primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). By video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery we resected the coin lesion which contained an abscess with acid-fast bacilli, identical to Mycobacterium intracellulare. The histopathology showed lymphocytic infiltration, caseous necrosis with Langhans' giant cells, and epithelioid granulomas. We finally made a diagnosis of pSS presenting with middle lobe syndrome (MLS) complicated by nontuberculous mycobacterial disease (NTM). We discuss the mechanism by which pSS could be complicated by NTM and MLS. Clinicians should pay attention to this possible relationship, especially among middle-aged and elderly women.

[Two cases of chronic atelectasis that improved through use of nasal continuous positive pressure]

We observed improvements in two cases of chronic atelectasis through use of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP). Case 1 suffered from middle lobe syndrome accompanied by chronic atelectasis resistant to medical treatment. Case 2 suffered from respiratory failure caused by chronic atelectasis and airway infection complications thereof following a total pneumonectomy and post-pneumonectomy syndrome. The patient was placed on artificial ventilation, and atelectasis was improved by maintaining PEEP and airflow to the atelectatic region. Following extubation we obtained good pneumatization using nCPAP. nCPAP has been reported as effective not only in cases of sleep apnea, but also for cardiogenic pulmonary edema and post-operative atelectasis; we believe it holds great promise for chronic atelectasis as well.

Bronchial hyperresponsiveness, atopy, and bronchoalveolar lavage eosinophils in persistent middle lobe syndrome

Most cases of middle lobe syndrome (MLS) in children are considered to be due to asthma and may recover spontaneously; however, in persistent MLS, repeated episodes of infection often institute a vicious cycle that may lead to persistent symptoms and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR). The present study was undertaken to investigate whether asthma, as an underlying diagnosis, is predictive of a favorable outcome of children with persistent MLS. We evaluated 53 children with MLS who underwent an aggressive management protocol that included fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). These patients were compared to two other groups: one consisting of children with current asthma but no evidence of MLS (N = 40) and another of non-asthmatic controls (N = 42), matched for age and sex. Prevalence of sensitization (>or=1 aeroallergen) did not differ between patients with MLS and "non-asthmatics" but was significantly lower than that of "current asthmatics." A positive response to methacholine bronchial challenge was observed with increased frequency among children with MLS when compared to "current asthmatic" and non-asthmatic children. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed a positive correlation between an increased number of eosinophils in the BAL fluid (BALF) and a favorable outcome, whereas no correlation was detected between sensitization or BHR and BAL cellular components. In conclusion, children with MLS have an increased prevalence of BHR, even when compared to asthmatics, but exhibit prevalence of atopy similar to that of non-asthmatics. An increased eosinophilic BALF count is predictive of symptomatic but not radiographic improvement of MLS patients after aggressive anti-asthma management.

Middle lobe syndrome as the pulmonary manifestation of primary Sjögren's syndrome

Middle lobe syndrome - recurrent atelectasis and/or bronchiectasis involving the right middle lobe and/or lingula - has, up to now, not been reported as the pulmonary manifestation of primary Sjögren's syndrome. We describe a patient in whom lymphocytic bronchiolitis in the atelectatic lobes was proved histologically from two separate transbronchial biopsies. The atelectasis responded well to glucocorticoid treatment, suggesting that the peribronchiolar lymphocytic infiltrates may have played an important role in the development of middle lobe syndrome in this patient.

Middle lobe syndrome in children with asthma: review of 56 cases

OBJECTIVE

Middle lobe syndrome (MLS) is one of the complications of asthma. Its signs and symptoms are often nonspecific, causing delay in appropriate treatment. We aimed to review our pediatric asthmatic patients and provide differential characteristics between MLS and asthma worsening in order to target early diagnosis.

METHOD

File records of all asthmatics (n=3528) seen in our clinic during the last 2 years were retrospectively reviewed to identify the patients with MLS, and a case-control study was undertaken. Files of 56 asthmatic children diagnosed as MLS, with a total of 63 episodes, and 63 matched controls with asthma worsening were analyzed and compared.

RESULTS

The incidence of MLS was 1.62% and half were below or at the age of 6. All cases with MLS were documented radiologically, and only 5 of the 63 episodes had physical findings suspicious for MLS. The most affected segments were right middle lobe (50%) and left lingula (26.2%). Although in all cases symptoms cleared, in 23 (36.5%) cases, atelectasis persisted radiologically. Compared to controls, patients with MLS included less atopics (34.9% vs. 59.4%, p<0.05) and fewer boys (52.4% vs. 71.4%, p<0.05), and they reported less frequent dyspnea (57.1% vs. 85.9%), more frequent sputum production (49.2% vs. 7.8%), and longer duration of complaints (22.0+/-6.23 vs. 2.4+/-0.31 days) (p<0.001, for each). Furthermore, the resolution of symptoms took significantly longer (45.2+/-9.3 vs. 3.3+/-0.4 days, p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

We conclude that complicating MLS in childhood asthma is more frequent in younger ages, girls, and nonatopics. In most cases, physical findings are not informative, and chest radiographs diagnose most but not all cases. The most suggestive symptoms are unresolving/persisting symptoms during admission and/or following treatment.

[Treatment of middle-lobe syndrome]

Results of treatment of 242 patients with middle-lobe syndrome are analyzed. Indications for surgical treatment of middle-lobe syndrome must be determined very individually. Organo-saving surgeries are the methods of choice for benign processes in the middle lobe. In malignant tumors, destructive and cirrhotic processes of the middle lobe the resections are indicated.

[Pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) disease showing middle lobe syndrome--pathological findings of 2 cases suggesting different mode of development]

Two different processes have been proposed for pathogenesis of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) disease which show the middle lobe syndrome: 1) middle lobe bronchiectasis followed by MAC infection and 2) MAC disease resulted in secondary bronchiectasis. Two surgical specimen from MAC cases showing middle lobe syndrome were studied histo-pathologically. The first case was a 60 year-old female with frequent bloody sputum, who had been diagnosed as bronchiectasis in her childhood. Pathological examination of the resected middle lobe showed prominent cylindric bronchiectasis in the indurated middle lobe, and epithelioid cell granulomas were scattered limited to the fibrous bronchial walls, without any granulomas in the lung parenchyma. These findings suggested a secondary infection of MAC to the non-specific pre-existed bronchiectasis. The second case of a 55 year-old female having repeated bloody sputum, who was diagnosed to be tuberculosis but no improvement with anti-tuberculosis drugs. Pathological examination of the middle lobe showed scattered epithelioid cell granulomas with lymphocytic infiltration in the lung parenchyma. A few epithelioid cell granulomas were also found in the mucosa of middle lobe bronchi. In this case, pulmonary MAC lesions seemed to precede the central bronchial lesion with later development of bronchiectasis. Summarizing above findings two different mode of pathogenesis ways may be considered; one is non-specific bronchiectasis followed by middle lobe MAC disease and the other is pulmonary MAC lesion in the middle lobe as a primary change.

Right middle lobe atelectasis associated with endobronchial silicotic lesions

BACKGROUND

In a period of 18 months, we have encountered 4 cases of right middle lobe atelectasis associated with endobronchial silicotic lesions of right middle lobe bronchi. All patients had occupational exposure to mineral dusts (3 coal miners and 1 sand blaster) for months to decades.

METHODS

The nature of the endobronchial silicotic lesions that caused the bronchial obstruction has been confirmed by endobronchial biopsies and energy-dispersive spectrometry of the lesions. Extrinsic compression has been excluded by careful radiographic and computed tomographic image analysis.

RESULTS

The endobronchial silicosis does not appear to correlate with the degree of pneumoconiosis of the lung parenchyma. The endobronchial silicosis may cause bronchial obstruction in the absence of radiographic evidence of pulmonary silicosis.

CONCLUSION

The endobronchial silicosis and consequent lung atelectasis may be associated with silica exposure.

[Middle lobe syndrome: apropos of 5 cases]

We present 5 cases of middle lobe syndrome. We discuss the etiologic aspects. Fibroptic bronchoscopy must be systematic. Treatment is conservative or surgical.

Case report: Blastomyces dermatitidis as a cause of middle lobe syndrome

Middle lobe syndrome is a clinical term used to describe right middle lobe atelectasis with or without bronchial compression. Fungal disease has been implicated rarely as a cause of middle lobe syndrome. This is a patient with Blastomyces dermatitidis infection who presented with right middle lobe syndrome.

Middle lobe syndrome

Middle lobe syndrome is defined as recurrent or chronic collapse of the middle lobe of the right lung. It occurs in all age groups and is divided into an obstructive type, with a demonstrable airway occlusion, and a nonobstructive type, with a patent right middle lobe bronchus apparent on bronchoscopy. Middle lobe collapse has specific radiographic findings. Malignancy is the most common cause of the obstructive type, and infections are the second leading etiology. The nonobstructive type is associated with inflammatory conditions and bronchiectasis. In all cases, treatment is directed at the underlying cause.

[Middle lobe syndrome--incidence and relationship to atypical mycobacterial pulmonary disease]

We evaluated the incidence of middle lobe syndrome in the Haibara area, and its relationship to atypical mycobacterial infection. Of the 30,588 persons who underwent annual mini-chest roentgenography in 1992 or 1993 or both, 51 (0.17%) had middle lobe syndrome, diagnosed from posteroanterior and lateral chest X-ray films. The incidence was significantly higher in persons over 50 years old than in persons under 50 years old (0.26% vs 0.02%: p < 0.001), and was higher in femals than in males (0.20% vs 0.11%: p = 0.527). Of 16 patients examined by bronchoscopy and computed tomography, 7 showed evidence of cylindrical bronchiectasis, and four had mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease presenting as middle lobe syndrome. All four were women who were 51 years of age or older and none had predisposing pulmonary disorders. Computed tomography showed multiple nodular shadows with or without bronchiectasis located in the middle lobe or the lingula. Cavitary lesions were not seen. These results indicate that middle lobe syndrome is not rare, and that infection with mycobacterium avium complex should be considered when multiple nodular shadows are seen in the middle lobe or the lingula.

[Middle lobe syndrome in children. Critical review]

The clinical, radiological and anatomo-evolutive pictures of this syndrome are typical. It is suggested that cases are more frequent than is generally thought and that their recognition is delayed on account of the considerable time that often elapses before repeated infection of the respiratory system, particularly the middle lobe, results in the onset of the syndrome.

[A case of atelectasis of the middle lobe associated with congestive heart failure]

A 74-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for work up of a shadow in the right middle lobe on chest X-ray film. He had hypertension, aortic regurgitation, and atrial fibrillation on admission. Bronchoscopy demonstrated total obstruction of the right B4 orifice, but the etiology of obstruction was unknown. He was discharged and followed up. The shadow in the middle lobe disappeared spontaneously and the cardiac silhouette was slightly smaller than that on the first admission. The shadow in the middle lobe reappeared again with the progression of cardiomegaly. Because hypertension became uncontrolled and pretibial edema developed, he was readmitted. Bronchoscopy showed the same findings as on the first admission. After treatment of heart failure for one month, bronchoscopy demonstrated partial patency of the right B4 orifice. As cardiomegaly improved, the shadow in the middle lobe diminished and then disappeared, and chest CT scan showed patency of the right B4. These findings suggest that congestive heart failure caused the atelectasis of the right middle lobe, so-called middle lobe syndrome. A possible mechanism of the right B4 obstruction is that the right B4 was compressed between the middle lobe artery and the dilated middle lobe vein due to heart failure.

[Fibrobronchoscopy in the diagnosis of middle lobe syndrome]

236 cases with middle lobe syndrome were examined with fibrobronchoscope. The total rate of positive finding was 92.8% (219/236). Inflammation (167 cases), lung cancer (47 cases), tuberculosis (17 cases) accounted for most of the cases. The diagnostic rate for the three above-mentioned diseases were 97.6%, 87.2% and 58.8% respectively. Fibrobronchoscopy was also of significant diagnostic value in determining other uncommon cases such as broncholithiasis, lipoid pneumonia, lung infiltration in leukemia, etc. The etiology, chest X-ray (including CT) presentations of this middle lobe syndrome and the diagnostic value of fibrobronchoscopy were discussed. Our experience suggests that this procedure is both safe and effective in the diagnosis of patients with middle lobe syndrome.

Right middle lobe syndrome caused by Mycobacterium fortuitum in a patient with human immunodeficiency virus infection

We have reported a previously undescribed syndrome of Mycobacterium fortuitum infection manifested as localized pulmonary disease that required lung resection and prolonged combined chemotherapy for clinical response in a patient with HIV infection. M fortuitum infections must be considered in HIV-infected patients with possible infectious pulmonary complications.

[Ultrastructural heterogeneity in primary ciliary dyskinesia syndrome. A case report]

One of the causes of middle lobe syndrome is primary ciliary dyskinesia. This diagnosis was established in an eight-year-old girl by functional studies of the cilia on bronchial and nasal biopsy specimens. The clinical approach to this disease is emphasized and the technical difficulties raised by the diagnosis are discussed.

[Analysis of the clinical course of pulmonary tuberculosis in women over 70 years of age]

The course of pulmonary tuberculosis was analyzed in 34 females older than 70 years and 30 women, age range 35-55 years (mean 43.8 yrs) treated between 1.01.1985 and 31.12.1988 in the Pulmonological Department of the Szczecin Medical Academy. Pulmonary tuberculosis in females aged more than 70 years was diagnosed basing mainly on clinical grounds (82%), positive sputum (88%) and advanced radiological changes. In 25% evidence of the middle lobe syndrome was found--all sputum positive. In the control group such findings were not seen. In almost all patients of this group 4 drug therapy was instituted. Streptomycin was tolerated the poorest. The therapeutical course was similar in both groups. Pulmonary tuberculosis in the studied group was usually diagnosed in the advanced stage. The population of females of 70 years and older is an important epidemiological risk factor.

Middle lobe syndrome due to accessory cardiac bronchus

A patient had recurrent middle lobe syndrome and was found to have a congenital accessory cardiac bronchus. Inflammation in its blind pocket was believed to be the underlying cause of recurrence.

Pathology of the middle lobe syndromes. A histopathological and pathogenetic analysis of sixty surgically-cured cases

During the last 10 years the pathological substrate of the middle lobe syndrome was analysed in 60 surgically cured cases aged 7-59: there were 36 lung chronic suppurations, 20 neoplasias and 4 tuberculoses. In all these cases it was shown that, together with the specific lesions (infectious, tuberculosis, neoplastic) of bronchial walls and lung parenchyma a more or less obvious and high bronchial obstruction developed leading to obstructive pneumonitis with intralobular lipospongiocytosis. Investigated at different evolutive phases, this pneumonitis led to an extended restructuring of the lung tissue which occupied differently sized areas of the middle lobe. In the neoplastic and tuberculous cases, the restructured lung areas often included neoplastic emboli or infiltrations of neoplastic cells, or, respectively, remnant, reshuffled tuberculous lesions. None of cases presented zones of pure atelectasis.

Isolated middle lobe atelectasis: aetiology, pathogenesis, and treatment of the so-called middle lobe syndrome

Isolated atelectasis of the middle lobe has been known for many years as the "middle lobe syndrome". Several clinical studies have shown that it may bae caused by malignant tumours. A 10-year study of 135 patients with isolated middle lobe atelectasis is presented. Fifty-eight patients (43%) had malignant tumours. Of 38 who had a thoracotomy, lung resection was possible in 25. In 20 patients regional or systemic dissemination of the tumour had been diagnosed before operation. Seventy-seven patients had benign diseases, of which 74 were non-specific infections. Bronchography was performed in 46 of these cases, and all had abnormal findings in the middle lobe, eight revealing definite bronchiectasis. In three cases tuberculosis was found. In 16 cases the benign diagnosis was established at thoracotomy. Only three patients out of 58 with malignant tumours lived more than five years. Atelectasis of the middle lobe is always a sign of potential malignancy especially in patients with a previously normal chest radiograph.

Collateral ventilation and the middle lobe syndrome

The mechanics of collateral ventilation in the right middle lobe of 5 young, normal volunteers were studied using a bronchoscopic wedge technique, and the results were compared with those from an upper lobe of the same subjects. At functional residual capacity, the resistance to collateral ventilation in the right middle lobe was 4,042 +/- 559 cm H2O per liter per sec (mean +/- SE), whereas that of the upper lobes was 799 +/- 168 cm H2O per liter per sec. The time constant for collateral ventilation could not be measured in the right middle lobe of any of the subjects because it exceeded their breath-holding times of 6 to 16 sec. The time constant for collateral ventilation in the upper lobes was 4.5 +/- 1.0 sec. We concluded that collateral ventilation in the right middle lobe of young normal subjects is characterized by a high resistance and a long-time constant relative to the upper lobes. This is probably explained by a greater ratio of pleural surface to nonpleural surface in the right middle lobe as compared to the upper lobes. We suggest that ineffective collateral ventilation is a major factor in the pathophysiology of the Middle Lobe Syndrome.

[Analysis of middle lobe-resections of the lung (author's transl)]

The present paper investigates the reasons for 26 resections carried out the diagnosis of the so-called "Middle-lobe-syndrome". In 25 of them the diagnosis could be confirmed by postoperative pathological examinations. The term "Middle-lobe-syndrome" means only a roentgenological findings. Its etiology must be investigated as soon as possible with all diagnostic procedures and too, by operation. This is expecially urgent in men older than 40 years.