Vanishing lung syndrome

A radiological syndrome in which the lungs appear to be disappearing on X-ray.

The syndrome is characterized by a progressive decrease in the radiographic opacity of the lung.

Causes include the accelerated progression of emphysema destroying the lung or the rapid cystic destruction of the lung by infection.

A book of poems entitled 'Vanishing Lung Syndrome' was published by Miroslav Holub (1923-98), the Czech immunologist, physician, writer and poet.

The title poem about the vanishing lung syndrome reads in part as follows:</P> NTER>'scintigraphy shows<BR>a disappearance of perfusion, and angiography<BR>shows remnants of arterial branches<BR>without the capillary phase.<BR>Inside there may be growing<BR>an abandoned room.'</CENTER< p>