Congenital pulmonary malformations from the prenatal to the postnatal period: Tertiary center experience

INTRODUCTION: Our purpose was to review our experience with the fetuses diagnosed prenatally with congenital pulmonary malformations (CPM).
METHODS: Retrospective study of fetuses prenatally diagnosed with congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM), bronchopulmonary sequestration (BPS), bronchogenic cyst (BC) by ultrasonography between September 2020 and December 2022.
RESULTS: Sample analysis was based on 34 pregnancies with CPMs. On the basis of prenatal sonographic appearance, CPAM, BPS and BC were identified antenatally in 79.4% (27/34), 14.7% (5/34) and 5.8% (2/34), respectively. Most (76.5%) were isolated, all cases were unilateral (100%) and majority (64.7%) were regressed late antenatally or postnatally with expectant management. Of the 27 fetuses presented with CPAM, postsurgical resection was necessary for 5 cases (18.5%). There was only one case with hydrops and a CPAM volume ratio >1.6 and was managed with thoraco-amniotic shunt prenatally and right lower lobe resection postnatally. Of the 5 fetuses presented with BPS, thoracoscopic excision was necessary for 2 cases. Of the 2 fetuses presented with BC, cyst excision was performed or planned to cases.


DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The results from our center in last two years reflect overall favorable outcomes for all CPMs. The role of ultrasound is cost-effective during perinatal period rather than fetal MRI.