Oltre al wheezing, c'è di più: una storia da approfondire

Recurrent wheezing in preschool children is frequently linked to infectious causes, yet it may also indicate underlying structural anomalies such as bronchogenic cysts (BC), which are rare congenital thoracic malformations. This report presents the case of an 11-month-old infant with persistent respiratory distress and recurrent wheezing despite steroid prophylaxis. Diagnostic evaluation, including pulmonary function tests, CT and MRI, identified a cystic lesion in the posterior mediastinum causing compression of the bronchial and vascular structures. Thoracoscopic surgical excision and histological analysis confirmed the diagnosis of BC and led to a complete resolution of symptoms. The described case emphasises the necessity of considering congenital malformations in the differential diagnosis of persistent wheezing and highlights the importance of a multimodal imaging approach and radical surgical treatment.