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CT appearance of cystic adenomatoid malformations
1Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110.
Insights
Computed tomography (CT) effectively visualizes cystic adenomatoid malformation (CAM) in children. Uninfected CAM appears as thin-walled cysts, while infected CAM presents as complex masses with mixed solid and cystic components.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Radiology
- Thoracic Imaging
- Congenital Lung Abnormalities
Background:
- Cystic adenomatoid malformation (CAM) is a rare congenital lung malformation in pediatric patients.
- CAM can present with diverse clinical manifestations, including respiratory distress and recurrent infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To illustrate the computed tomography (CT) appearances of cystic adenomatoid malformation (CAM) in pediatric patients.
- To correlate CT findings with the clinical presentation and infection status of CAM.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of CT scans from four pediatric patients diagnosed with CAM.
- Analysis of imaging features, including lesion morphology, wall thickness, and internal characteristics.
Main Results:
- Uninfected CAM in neonates and infants typically appeared as multilocular cystic masses with thin walls on CT.
- Infected CAM presented as complex lesions with mixed solid and cystic components and variable margin definition.
Conclusions:
- CT is a valuable tool for diagnosing and characterizing cystic adenomatoid malformation (CAM) in children.
- CT findings can help differentiate between infected and uninfected CAM, guiding clinical management.
Abstract:
Four pediatric patients with cystic adenomatoid malformation (CAM) are reported to illustrate the CT appearances of this lesion. Two patients presented in infancy with respiratory distress and two in later childhood with superimposed infection. Multilocular cystic masses with thin walls were seen by CT in the neonate and small infants with uninfected CAM, while infected CAM appeared as a complex lesion on CT, with an admixture of solid and cystic tissue and with variable definition of margins.