A boy with chest deformity.

An 11 year old boy with a right hemithorax deformity and diminished breathing sounds in the right lung was referred to our department, following examination by a physician due to knee pain caused by flat-footedness. He had a history of recurrent viral infections of the upper airways in early childhood since the age of 3 yrs. He has been free of pulmonary complaints. Bronchitis was diagnosed only once. Pregnancy and delivery were normal. In the neonatal and infantile period the boy was in good health. The right hemithorax deformity was diagnosed at 4 yrs of age, but was interpreted as a complication of rachitis. On physical examination, the patient appeared well. He was thin (weight 24 kg, height 134 cm; 25th and below 3rd percentiles, respectively), had a markedly enlarged right hemithorax with a slight reduction of wall