Unilateral lung disease detected by radioisotopic scanning in children thought to have asthma.

The clinical courses of three children are described. They were initially thought to have troublesome asthma alone or in association with other diseases. The children had radioactive gas lung scans using 13N for studies of ventilation and perfusion which in each case revealed one entirely healthy lung and one disordered lung. The technique of 13N gamma scanning is described and its clinical value in such patients is discussed.