Congenital lung malformations: informing best practice

Abstract

The management of congenital lung malformations is controversial both in the prenatal and postnatal periods. This article attempts to inform best practice by reviewing the level of evidence with regard to prenatal diagnosis, prognosis, and management and postnatal management, including imaging, surgical indication, surgical approach, and risk of malignancy. We present a series of clinically relevant statements along those topics and analyze the evidence for each. In the end, we make a plea for an adequate description of the lesions, both before and after birth, which will allow future comparisons between management options and the initiation of prospective registries.

Keywords: Congenital lung lesions; Congenital pulmonary airway malformations; Cystic adenomatoid malformation; Pleuropulmonary blastoma; Sequestration.