Pediatric Congenital and Miscellaneous Lung Abnormalities

Abstract

Congenital lung abnormalities are common in pediatric patients. While these lung malformations may be incidental findings in some children, they can also result in various symptoms and imaging findings depending on their size, location, as well as connection to and mass effect upon the adjacent thoracic structures. Imaging plays an important role for early and correct diagnosis, which in turn can improve pediatric patient care by guiding the appropriate next step in management. In this chapter, we discuss clinical presentation and imaging findings of common congenital lung abnormalities in the pediatric population. In addition, rare but important other congenital malformations such as horseshoe lung, hepatopulmonary fusion, bronchobiliary fistula (BBF), and cast bronchitis are reviewed. Familiarity with the characteristic clinical and imaging findings of congenital lung abnormalities can avoid delay in diagnosis and optimize pediatric patient care.