A retrospective clinical analysis of 20 cases of congenital lung masses

Congenital-pulmonary-airway-malformation (CPAM) and bronchopulmonary-sequestration (BPS) are rare conditions. The objective of this study was to describe the sonographic characteristics and prenatal course of fetal lung mass.

A retrospective study on 20 pregnancies with CPAM and BPS diagnosed during 2018-2018 was performed. Data evaluated included gestational age (GA) at diagnosis, size of lesion, CPAM-volume-ratio (CVR), associated sonographic findings and pregnancy outcome.

Fourteen cases of CPAM and six cases of BPS were evaluated. The average GA at diagnosis was 22 weeks'-gestation (range 17-26). 66% were macrocystic-multicystic. Five cases of BPS (71.4%) had other structural anomalies. None of the fetuses with CPAM had additional anomalies. Four pregnancies (20%) underwent termination due to severe hydrops fetalis. Two cases of CPAM (15%) had spontaneous resolution by 30 week's-gestation; three cases (20%) continued to grow during pregnancy and all the rest reached their largest size at 25-28 week's-gestation. Most cases delivered at term (average 37.6 range 32.2-41.4). Two children had lobectomy at 11 and 12 months of life.

Careful follow-up during pregnancy may result in term delivery of adequate-for-gestational-age newborns, with no need for admission to the NICU, with only 10% need for lobectomy during the first year of life.