Shall all congenital cystic lung malformations be removed? The case in favour

Abstract

The need to systematically remove congenital cystic lung lesions is based on three main arguments. First, cystic malformations are often considered as congenital cystic adenomatoid malformations (CCAM), while other less favorable diagnoses are possible, such as pleuropulmonary blastoma. Only postsurgical pathological analysis allows diagnosis. Second, there are clinical and biological arguments for considering macrocystic lesions as likely to degenerate. The only prevention is surgical removal. Finally, there is no recommendation on how to follow these children, in the absence of removal, causing unnecessary family stress. This seems unjustified, compared to a feasibility of thoracoscopic removal in most cases.