Obstructive emphysema due to chronic inhaled foreign body in the bronchus

Chronic obstructive emphysema due to foreign body in the bronchus is extremely rare. A case is described of a vegetable foreign body in the right main bronchus of an infant of 13 months who had obstructive emphysema that was demonstrable on X-ray for three months. A ball-valve mechanism was found at bronchoscopy and the foreign body was removed by bronchotomy. Granulation tissue was absent. Interesting features are discussed and the causes of obstructive emphysema and transradiancy of part or the whole of the lung are briefly mentioned.