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

[Congenital pulmonary malformations : Diagnosis and treatment]

PERFORMANCE

Congenital pulmonary malformations (CPM) are rare and can be associated with high morbidity. Clinical presentation, diagnostic procedures, imaging, and therapy of CPM are discussed.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Today, most CPM can be diagnosed prenatally by ultrasound. Postnatally, respiratory symptoms up to respiratory failure and recurrent lower respiratory tract infection are typical findings. Due to low diagnostic accuracy of chest x‑ray in CPM, all children with prenatal diagnosis of CPM or postnatally suspected CPM should undergo cross-sectional imaging.

PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS

Based on imaging alone, the various subtypes of CPM cannot be definitively differentiated, which is why histological confirmation remains the gold standard. Surgical resection is the standard of care with minimally invasive procedures increasingly being employed. In certain situations, a watch-and-wait approach is possible.

Congenital lung malformations

Congenital lung malformations (CLMs) are rare developmental anomalies of the lung, including congenital pulmonary airway malformations (CPAM), bronchopulmonary sequestration, congenital lobar overinflation, bronchogenic cyst and isolated congenital bronchial atresia. CLMs occur in 4 out of 10,000 live births. Postnatal presentation ranges from an asymptomatic infant to respiratory failure. CLMs are typically diagnosed with antenatal ultrasonography and confirmed by chest CT angiography in the first few months of life. Although surgical treatment is the gold standard for symptomatic CLMs, a consensus on asymptomatic cases has not been reached. Resection, either thoracoscopically or through thoracotomy, minimizes the risk of local morbidity, including recurrent infections and pneumothorax, and avoids the risk of malignancies that have been associated with CPAM, bronchopulmonary sequestration and bronchogenic cyst. However, some surgeons suggest expectant management as the incidence of adverse outcomes, including malignancy, remains unknown. In either case, a planned follow-up and a proper transition to adult care are needed. The biological mechanisms through which some CLMs may trigger malignant transformation are under investigation. KRAS has already been confirmed to be somatically mutated in CPAM and other genetic susceptibilities linked to tumour development have been explored. By summarizing current progress in CLM diagnosis, management and molecular understanding we hope to highlight open questions that require urgent attention.

Epidemiology and prevalence of pulmonary sequestration in Chinese population, 2010-2019

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary sequestration (PS) is the second common congenital lung malformation and has been known for over 150 years. However, there is a scarcity of epidemiological studies on it. This study aimed to characterize the epidemiology of pulmonary sequestration in Chinese population in the recent decade by using a nationwide database.

METHODS

Using data from the Chinese Birth Defects Monitoring Network during 2010-2019, the prevalence rates for PS were calculated by birth year, maternal age, residence area, geographical region, and infant sex. Variations in prevalence and changes over time were further examined. Other variables of interest for analysis included the pregnancy outcomes of affected infants, the prenatal diagnosis, and the co-occurring anomalies of PS cases.

RESULTS

During the study period, we identified an average prevalence rate of 0.31, 0.11, and 0.42 per 10,000 live and still births for the isolated, non-isolated, and overall PS, respectively. An upward trend was observed for each category of PS. The prevalence rates varied significantly by maternal age (< 20 years, 0.34/10,000; 20-24 years, 0.33/10,000; 25-29 years, 0.45/10,000; 30-34 years, 0.46/10,000; ≥ 35 years, 0.36/10,000), residence area (urban vs. rural, 0.51/10,000 vs. 0.30/10,000), geographical region (western, 0.33/10,000; eastern, 0.49/10,000; central, 0.43/10,000), and by infant sex (male vs. female, 0.45/10,000 vs. 0.38/10,000). Non-isolated PS cases were more likely born prematurely than isolated cases (15.29% vs. 7.83%). 40.28% and 33.80% of non-isolated cases were accompanied by additional respiratory, and circulatory system malformations, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The study presents for the first time the prevalence of pulmonary sequestration in Chinese population. The rising prevalence and relatively poor perinatal outcome of affected fetuses or newborns indicate the necessity to improve perinatal management of PS.

The Prevalence of Congenital Anomalies of the Airway or Lung in Infants with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome and Differences in Midterm Outcomes: A National Pediatric Cardiology Quality Improvement Collaborative Registry Analysis

Infants with single ventricle physiology and congenital anomalies of the airway and/or lung are potentially poor candidates for staged palliation. The prevalence and midterm outcomes for patients with anomalies of the airway or lung with hypoplastic left heart syndrome are unknown. We performed an analysis of data in infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome from the National Pediatric Cardiology Quality Improvement Collaborative registry. The prevalence of congenital anomalies of the airway or lung in the registry was determined. Clinical characteristics and midterm outcomes were compared between infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome with and without anomalies of the airway or lung. Fifty-seven (2.3%) of 2467 infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome enrolled in the registry had congenital airway or lung anomalies. Infants congenital anomalies of the airway or lung had significantly lower transplant-free survival at 1 year (49.5 vs 77.2%, p < 0.001). Infants with airway or lung anomalies had longer combined hospital length of stay for stage 1 and stage 2 palliation (102 vs 65.1 days, p < 0.001) and underwent more major procedures (2.04 vs 0.93 procedures, p < 0.001) than those without. There was no difference in the number of interstage readmissions (1.85 vs 1.89, p = 0.87) or need for non-oral feeding supplementation (71.4 vs 54.5%, p = 0.12) between groups. Infants enrolled in the National Pediatric Cardiology Quality Improvement Collaborative registry with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and anomalies of the airway or lung have increased morbidity and mortality at 1 year compared to those with hypoplastic left heart syndrome alone.

Case Report: Prenatal and Postnatal Management for Fetal Bronchogenic Cysts During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: A fetal bronchogenic cyst (BC) is a rare congenital anomaly with an incidence of 0.147-0.238‰. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, as a particular situation, hindered pregnant women from receiving periodic prenatal checkups. Case Description: Until 34⁺⁶ weeks of gestation, a fetal case of the intrathoracic cyst was found by ultrasound examination. Further, MRI examination confirmed the diagnosis of the congenital mediastinal cystic lesion, probably a BC. Genetic testing was not conducted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At 38⁺⁵ weeks of gestation with maternal COVID-19 testing negative, a live girl was delivered by cesarean section. Five months later, the child underwent bronchocystectomy, and the postoperative pathological lesions confirmed a (right upper mediastinum) BC. Conclusion: Herein, we reported the prenatal and postnatal management for a rare case of the congenital BC by multidisciplinary approaches during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fetal MRI and screening for fetal chromosomal abnormalities are especially recommended. This case contributes to the awareness that the COVID-19 pandemic interferes with regular follow-up schedules during pregnancy and may interfere with timely performed additional tests; which leads to more accurate genetic counseling. A combination of multidisciplinary approaches, including radiology, infection control, genetic counseling, obstetrics, and pediatric surgery, is pivotal for managing fetal BC during the COVID-19 pandemic.