Congenital bronchial atresia effectively treated with thoracoscopic segmentectomy: A case report

A 35-year-old woman who had been treated for systemic lupus erythematosus presented with coughing and slight fever that had persisted for two weeks. Computed tomography of the chest revealed a mass-like infiltrate as well as cystic lesion in the right upper lobe with a defect of the posterior segmental bronchus, and antibiotic treatment was initiated. On detecting a deteriorating infiltrate with fluid retention in the cyst a week later, we performed bronchoscopic examination and identified the absence of the orifice of the right posterior segmental bronchus, leading to a diagnosis of congenital bronchial atresia. Although the infiltrate improved with the administration of other antibiotics, considering the possibility of recurrent infection in the future, we performed thoracoscopic segmentectomy. Due to the fact that antibiotic treatment for obstructive pneumonia with bronchial atresia is sometimes difficult, it is important to determine appropriate timing for surgical resection of the affected segment.