Pediatric Congenital Lung Malformations: Contemporary Perspectives on Imaging Characteristics

Abstract

Congenital lung malformations (CLMs) comprise a spectrum of developmental anomalies including malformations of the lung parenchyma, airways, and vasculature. CLMs in the pediatric population are increasingly detected due to the improvements in and increased use of fetal imaging. Detailed characterization of CLMs is performed postnatally. Among currently available imaging modalities, computed tomography angiography (CTA) is the gold standard for the best anatomic characterization of CLMs. In this review article, we present up-to-date knowledge on the clinical relevance and imaging characteristics of common CLMs, which is important for radiologists and clinicians treating children to expedite diagnosis and improve pediatric patient care.