Congenital lobar emphysema

Congenital lobar emphysema (CLE) is a condition associated with enlarged air spaces in the lungs of newborn children. It is usually diagnosed around the time of birth or in the first 6 months of life, occurring more often in boys than girls. CLE affects the upper lung lobes more than the lower lobes, and the left lung more often than the right lung. Although CLE may be caused by abnormal development of airways (bronchi, for example) or compression of airways by nearby tissues, no cause is identified in half of cases.