title: Massive lung collapse with partial resolution after several years: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bronchitis obliterans is a severe and extremely rare complication of respiratory tract infections in children and is characterized by massive atelectasis and collapse of the affected lung. Of the rare cases reported in the literature all surviving children underwent surgical resection of the collapsed lung.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report an infant with bronchitis obliterans that was treated conservatively. 5 years after the initial event, partial lung re-expansion was documented.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This case therefore supports a conservative treatment whenever possible with pneumonectomy only as a last treatment option.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. Elke.Govaere@olvz-aalst.be
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Govaere
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Van Raemdonck
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Devlieger
authors.forename: Maria-Helena
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Smet
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Verbeken
authors.forename: Marijke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Proesmans
authors.forename: Kris
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: De Boeck
mesh_terms: D001989:Bronchiolitis Obliterans / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001996:Bronchopneumonia / Q000150:complications*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D001261:Pulmonary Atelectasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D011859:Radiography