Bronchiectasis

This is a plain chest x-ray of an 8-year-old with primary ciliary dyskinesia and severe bronchiectasis. There is extensive bronchiectasis in the left middle and lower zones, as shown by the multiple cystic spaces. There is less severe damage in the right middle lobe. Primary ciliary dyskinesia (also called immotile cilia syndrome) is an inherited condition in which the cilia have impaired function. Mucus which is normally shifted by the cilia therefore accumulates in the airways and makes bacterial infection more likely. The patient is more susceptible to infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia, and ultimately to permanent airway damage leading to bronchiectasis. In the upper airway, rhinosinusitis and glue ear (chronic secretory otitis media) are common.