Avoiding misdiagnosis in postnatal presentation of congenital diaphragmatic hernia: A report of two cases and review of radiologic features

Diagnosis of a congenital diaphragmatic hernia after the first day of life can be challenging. The clinical symptoms are often nonspecific, and initial radiographic findings in these patients may mimic many other acute chest conditions, including pneumonia, pleural effusion, and pneumothorax. In turn, diagnostic uncertainty may expose the patient to unnecessary and even potentially harmful interventions such as thoracostomy tube placement. As such, it is imperative that radiologists remain aware of this uncommon entity and recognize imaging findings which may provide clues to its diagnosis.