Associated Anomalies in Congenital Lung Abnormalities: A 20-Year Experience

A congenital lung abnormality (CLA) is often found in conjunction with other abnormalities but screening guidelines for newborns with CLA have not yet been reported. We aimed to assess the incidence of associated anomalies in CLA patients born or followed up at our centre and the need for additional screening of newborns with a CLA.

From a retrospective chart review of all patients born with a CLA between January 1999 and January 2019, we identified patients diagnosed with a congenital pulmonary airway malformation, bronchopulmonary sequestration, congenital lobar overinflation, bronchogenic cyst, or lung agenesis. Associated anomalies were noted and categorized according to the affected organ system.

Twenty-eight (14%) of 196 CLA patients had a major associated anomaly. This was most frequent in conjunction with a lung agenesis (100%) or bronchogenic cyst (29%). Congenital heart defects (32%) and gastrointestinal defects (18%) were the most frequently associated anomalies. Examination of newborns with a CLA should focus on the cardiovascular and gastrointestinal tract, and a chest and abdominal radiograph may be useful to assess signs of major associated anomalies, regardless of the clinical course.