Bilateral pulmonary agenesis diagnosed in the 13 th week of gestation - a case report and literature review

Abstract

Bilateral pulmonary agenesis (BPA) is a rare congenital lung malformation incompatible with extra-uterine life, diagnosed by various prenatal imaging modalities in the second and third trimesters. Essentials for diagnosis are complete absence of lungs and bronchi and no pulmonary vascular supply. In the present case, both convex and vaginal ultrasound scan performed at 13 th GW revealed an anechoic content in the entire fetal thorax with no evidence of pericardial effusion, fetal heart diseases, or any other accompanying congenital malformations. On three-vessel view (3VV), bifurcation of pulmonary artery could not be identified, which confirmed the diagnosis of BPA. In conclusion, clinical importance of combining the up-to-date technological tools and clinical expertise in establishing the diagnosis as early as in the first trimester allows the clinicians to terminate the pregnancy with the lowest incidence rate of eventual complications related to the procedure. According to the literature data, this is the first and therefore unique case of BPA diagnosed in the 13 th week of gestation.