Agenesis of lung - a report of two cases

Clinical outcomes of pulmonary agenesis: A systematic review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

Pulmonary agenesis is a complete absence of the pulmonary parenchyma, airways, and vasculature unilaterally or bilaterally. Although bilateral cases are lethal, the outcome of unilateral cases remains not well described. We performed a comprehensive literature review to assess the clinical features of pulmonary agenesis.

METHODS

Four database sources were searched on October 10, 2021 and two cases were included from our institution. Studies related to the clinical impact of comorbidity and intervention on the survival outcome in pulmonary agenesis were included for full-text review.

RESULTS

We identified 259 patients-with right-sided (59%), left-sided (34%), and bilateral agenesis (7%)-among 195 articles and our two cases. Additional anomalies included cardiovascular (40%), skeletal (30%), gastrointestinal (20%), tracheal (20%: all stenoses), and genitourinary (14%) anomalies. Fifty-seven (24%) individuals in unilateral pulmonary agenesis had isolated disease. Outcomes related to survival were not uniformly reported, but the 2-year overall survival rate of unilateral agenesis was 62% and no subsequent death was reported until 13 years of age. The right-sided agenesis was more frequently associated with tracheal stenosis (27% vs. 11%, p = 0.003) than the left-sided disease. A multivariable analysis indicated that tracheal stenosis (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.2, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.3-4.1, p = 0.003) and gastrointestinal anomalies (HR: 2.0, 95% CI: 1.1-3.3, p = 0.010) were prognostic factors for mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

The poor prognostic factors were tracheal stenosis, right agenesis, and gastrointestinal anomalies. Treatment for these comorbidities is a key point for improving the survival of unilateral pulmonary agenesis.

Late presentation of unilateral lung agenesis in adulthood

Background

Pulmonary agenesis is a rare congenital anomaly with a reported prevalence of about 1 in 100,000 births. It may be bilateral or unilateral. Among the unilateral form, left lung agenesis is more common (70%); however, it is the right lung agenesis which carries a dismal prognosis due to the frequent association with a gamut of other congenital anomalies and greater degree of mediastinal shift leading to tracheo-bronchial and vascular distortion. The patients of unilateral pulmonary agenesis usually present in infancy or early childhood. Presentation in late adulthood as seen in our patient is rare. We present a case of left pulmonary agenesis that was diagnosed in 4th decade of life.

Case presentation

A 36-year-old male presented with gradually progressive exertional dyspnea of 1 month duration. Clinical examination revealed tachycardia and tachypnea. Chest radiograph showed opaque left hemithorax with ipsilateral mediastinal shift. Computed tomography clinched the diagnosis by demonstrating absence of left main bronchus, lung and left pulmonary artery with shift of heart, and great mediastinal vessels into left hemithorax. The patient was managed conservatively and discharged with attachment to out-patient department for regular follow-up.

Conclusion

Presentation of unilateral lung agenesis in late adulthood, as seen in the present case is extremely rare. This case report highlights that, a rare condition like unilateral pulmonary agenesis, should be considered in the list of differentials in an adult presenting with opaque hemithorax with ipsilateral mediastinal shift on radiography.

Unilateral opaque chest radiograph in paediatrics: A case series

Pulmonary underdevelopment is a rare congenital disease which manifests as persistent hemithorax opacification at chest radiography. We present three patients with different types of pulmonary underdevelopment, their imaging features and associated anomalies. Case 1 is a premature neonate with persistent respiratory distress. Further imaging confirmed right pulmonary hypoplasia, associated with a patent foramen ovale, patent ductus arteriosus and vertebral anomalies. Case 2 is a 6-year-old child with corrected anorectal malformation, and recurrent pneumonia. Further imaging confirmed left pulmonary aplasia, associated with an aberrant right subclavian artery and vertebral anomaly. Case 3 is a full term neonate who developed excessive drooling of saliva and respiratory distress. Further imaging confirmed right pulmonary agenesis, associated with an atrial septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus and tracheo-oesophageal fistula. Pulmonary underdevelopment is classified into three types: hypoplasia, aplasia and agenesis. The majority of them have associated anomalies. This condition should be considered a differential diagnosis in paediatric patients with an opaque hemithorax on chest radiography.

Dextrocardia with pulmonary hypoplasia: an unusual cause of unilateral lung white-out

Pulmonary agenesis is a rare developmental disorder with many syndromic associations. Type III agenesis presents with variable amounts of bronchial tree, pulmonary parenchyma and supporting vasculature. It is also reported to be associated with dextrocardia due to shifting of the heart to occupy the space left by the underdeveloped lung, which occurs as early as the fourth week of gestation. Right lung agenesis is considered rarer than its left-sided counterpart and also has a poorer prognosis due to increased chances of respiratory infections. We report a case of isolated right-sided lung hypoplasia with dextrocardia without situs inversus or heterotaxy.

CT features of lung agenesis - a case series (6 cases)

Back ground

Lung agenesis is a rare congenital anomaly. The main etiology of the disease is unknown whereas genetic, iatrogenic and viral factors as well as vitamin A deficiency during early pregnancy may result in developmental failure of primitive lung bud causing unilateral pulmonary agenesis. Affected patients usually present with variable respiratory symptoms and recurrent chest infection at any age. Plain film demonstrates opaque unilateral lung while chest CT scan can definitely diagnosis the disease. The anomaly has three types. Type I is pulmonary agenesis, type II is called pulmonary aplasia and type III is pulmonary hypoplasia.

Cases’ presentation

Six patients with main complaint of dyspnea underwent contrast enhanced chest CT in radiology department of French Medical Institute for Mothers and children, Kabul and were diagnosed lung agenesis.

Three patients were categorized as type II pulmonary agenesis (aplasia). Two patients, three months old boy and a seven year- old girl demonstrated right lung aplasia. Another patient boy of eighteen years old presented with left lung aplasia.

Two boys of four and seven months of age were classified as type I pulmonary agenesis (agenesis).

A boy of one year old was diagnosed pulmonary agenesis type III, right lung hypoplasia.

Conclusion

Six patients were diagnosed with pulmonary agenesis by Chest CT scan. The clinicians should consider possibility of congenital pulmonary agenesis in dyspneic patients with opaque unilateral hemithorax in plain film.

Endobronchial stenting on VV-ECMO in a 6-month-old girl with right lung agenesis and severe stenosis of the left main bronchus

INTRODUCTION

Lung agenesis is a rare disorder with a variable, but potentially very bad clinical course. It necessitates complex clinical management, especially in life-threatening situations.

CASE REPORT

We describe a case of a 6-month-old girl with right lung agenesis who required venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) due to pneumonia complicated by exacerbated previously diagnosed left main bronchus stenosis. The stenosis was resolved by endobronchial intervention and X-ray-guided stent insertion, which enabled weaning from ECMO and was aimed at preventing such a life-threatening respiratory failure in the future. Unfortunately, even with the functional stent, the baby died 2 months post-procedure due to unresolvable bronchial spasms.

DISCUSSION

Despite high endobronchial stenting-related mortality in children, in cases where no effective pharmacological or surgical alternatives exist, stenting may be safely performed during VV-ECMO support and be a viable option to overcome critical respiratory failure caused by bronchial stenosis.

Adult presentation of symptomatic left lung agenesis

Pulmonary agenesis is a rarely encountered congenital anomaly, and its average prevalence is about 1 in 100,000 births. Anomalies of the cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, or genitourinary systems may accompany in nearly half of the cases. The diagnosis of pulmonary agenesis is usually made during childhood, but the diagnosis may be delayed until adulthood in case of an absence of comorbid anomalies . Herein, we present a case of pulmonary agenesis that was diagnosed during adulthood.

Pulmonary aplasia with unusual associations in a woman

Failure of development of the primitive lung bud leads to an extremely rare congenital anomaly with a prevalence of 34 per 10 lac live births termed pulmonary aplasia. In half of such cases, associated congenital malformations of the cardiovascular, skeletal, gastrointestinal, or genitourinary systems are present. The Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome is defined as the congenital aplasia of the uterus and the upper two thirds of the vagina with normal secondary sexual characteristics, ovaries, and a normal karyotype (46, XX). We report an extremely rare association of right lung aplasia, MRKH syndrome, and right renal agenesis with left pelvic kidney, which to the best of our knowledge is the first such association reported.

Adult male with non-resolving opacity in the right hemithorax

Pulmonary agenesis is a well-known but rare congenital anomaly of the respiratory system. It represents failure of development of the primitive lung bud. We are reporting bilobar agenesis of the right lung associated with multisystem involvement in an adult patient.