ROENTGENOGRAMS OF THE CHEST TAKEN DURING PERTUSSIS

Roentgenograms of the chest taken during the course of pertussis were first described by Gottlieb and Möller,¹ more than twenty years ago. The subject has recently been excellently reviewed by Lapin² and Maggi.³ Often they found no clinical evidence or physical sign corresponding to the changes noted in roentgenograms of the lungs. Careful pathologic studies of lungs of children who died of pertussis were made by Feyrter,⁴ Hayakawa⁵ and others. These lungs on gross examination showed scattered areas of consolidation and atelectasis. Some authors emphasized enlargement of the lymph nodes in the hilar region as a contributing cause of symptoms. Histologic examination showed mainly peribronchial infiltration, with infiltration of the adjacent alveoli and interstitial thickening of the alveolar walls. Areas of atelectasis and emphysema were also seen frequently. The changes seen in roentgenograms were therefore thought to be caused by the pulmonary conditions previously described