Abstract
In this study, the criteria for diagnosis of middle lobe syndrome (MLS) were the following: (1) atelectasis of the right middle lobe or lingular: (2) at least 3 episodes of middle lobe atelectasis or persistent atelectasis of middle lobe for a minimum 4 weeks. Thirty-two of the 56 children with MLS were boys, 24 were girls. Age at the time of diagnosis ranged from 11 months to 14 years, with a mean (SD) of 5.4 (3.1) years old. Thirty-eight patients (67.9%) had asthma. Patients of MLS with asthma at initial diagnosis were significantly older than patients of MLS without asthma (6.1±3.3 years vs. 4.0±2.0 years). Patients with recurrent episodes had asthma more frequently than patients with persistent atelectasis. (p<0.01)
Twenty-two patients of 38 MLS with asthma were followed for at least 2 years. At initial diagnosis (mean age 6.4±3.8), 5 were classified as severe asthma, 3 as moderately severe asthma and 14 were as mild asthma. At follow-up (mean age 12.5±5.6), 6 were classified as severe asthma, 7 as moderately severe asthma, 8 as mild asthma and 1 was as no asthma. A child without asthma at initial diagnosis as MLS had ongoing asthma symptom after 5years.
