Management of congenital lung lesions.

Abstract

The prenatal diagnostic hallmarks, natural history, and management of congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung and pulmonary sequestration are reviewed. Large lung tumors may disappear partially on serial prenatal sonography, suggesting that improvement can occur occasionally during fetal life. The fetus with a lung mass but without hydrops has an excellent chance for survival with maternal transport, planned delivery, and postnatal evaluation and surgery. The finding that fetuses with hydrops are at very high risk for fetal or neonatal death has led to successful fetal thoracoamniotic shunt placement or fetal surgical resection.