Firstly, X-ray examination is mainly performed
Clinical symptoms of this disease are atypical, and differential diagnosis should be noted. Chest X-ray examination shows clear marginal round or elliptical dense shadows, or round or elliptical thin-walled radiolucent空洞shadows with fluid levels.
Congenital bronchogenic cysts: Common in pediatric cases, cysts are located in the interstitium of the lung or mediastinum, about70% are located within the lung:30% are located in the mediastinum, as the cysts can be single or multiple, with different amounts of gas or fluid, thus they can show different manifestations on chest X-rays:
1Single fluid and air cyst:
The most common type, with cysts of varying sizes, showing round thin-walled cysts with fluid levels inside. The characteristics of this type of cyst are thin cyst walls, no inflammatory infiltrative lesions in adjacent lung tissue, and little fibrosis. It needs to be differentiated from lung abscess, pulmonary tuberculosis cavity, and lung hydatid cyst. On X-rays, the wall of the lung abscess is thicker, with marked surrounding inflammation, the pulmonary tuberculosis cavity has a longer history, with surrounding tuberculous satellite lesions, and the lung hydatid cyst has epidemiological regional characteristics, life history, occupational history, blood tests, and intradermal tests that help in differentiation.
2Single air cyst:
Chest X-rays show air cysts in the affected lung, with large air cysts that can occupy one side of the pleural cavity, compressing the lung, trachea, mediastinum, and heart. It needs to be differentiated from pneumothorax, which is characterized by atrophy of the lung pushing towards the hilum, while the air in the air cysts is located within the lung, and often, upon careful observation, lung tissue can be seen at the apex of the lung and at the costodiaphragmatic angle.
3Multiple air cysts:
Clinical manifestations are also common, with chest X-rays showing multiple irregularly sized air cysts that need to be differentiated from multiple bullae, especially in children, where bullae often accompany pneumonia. On X-rays, the characteristics are translucent, thin-walled large bullae with variability in size, number, and shape, which often show more changes in short-term follow-up. Sometimes they can rapidly increase in size or rupture to form a pneumothorax. Once the lung inflammation subsides, the bullae can sometimes shrink or disappear spontaneously.
4Multiple fluid and air cysts:
Multiple fluid and air cavities can be seen on the chest X-ray, especially when the lesion is located on the left side, and it needs to be differentiated from congenital diaphragmatic hernia, which can also present as multiple fluid levels. If iodine oil or dilute barium is necessary for examination, and if contrast material is seen entering the gastrointestinal tract within the pleural cavity, it is a diaphragmatic hernia.
Diaphysis, bronchography, and CT scan are also beneficial for the diagnosis of this disease.