Keywords
congenital
cadaver
pneumonia
embryology
How to Cite
Abstract
Background. The azygos lobe is a rare anatomical variation of the right lung. This lobe is formed during embryological development but is not a true lobe, since it does not have a separate secondary bronchus. The prevalence of the azygos lobe in South African (SA) cadaveric populations has been reported as 0.5%.
Objectives. In this case report, we describe the presence of an azygos lobe in an 81-year-old white SA male who had died of pneumonia. This variation has important clinical significance and can be associated with other congenital abnormalities.
Conclusion. Knowledge of anatomical variations of the lung, such as the azygos lobe, is of great importance to prevent misdiagnosis, or complications during surgical interventions.
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