Middle lobe syndrome

doi:10.5606/tgkdc.dergisi.2016.11326

Zafer Kartaloğlu

GATA Haydarpaşa Eğitim Hastanesi, Göğüs Hastalıkları Kliniği, İstanbul, Türkiye

DOI : 10.5606/tgkdc.dergisi.2016.11326

Middle lobe syndrome is a clinical entity characterized by chronic or recurrent atelectasis of the right middle lung lobe. Pathophysiologically, there are two forms of middle lobe syndrome, namely obstructive and nonobstructive. Obstructive middle lobe syndrome is usually caused by endobronchial lesions or extrinsic compression of the middle lobe bronchus. In the non-obstructive type, no obstruction of the middle lobe bronchus is evident during bronchoscopy or with computed tomography of the thorax. Patients with non-obstructive middle lobe syndrome usually respond to medical therapy with bronchodilators, mucolytic agents, and antibiotics. Surgical resection is indicated for bronchiectasis or failure of intensive medical therapy to resolve the atelectasis. Lobectomy is an efficient and safe therapy modality in these patients.

Keywords : Bronchiectasis; middle lobe; silhouette sign; syndrome

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