Congenital cystic lung disease: prenatal ultrasound and postnatal multidetector computer tomography evaluation. Correlation with surgical and pathological data

Abstract

Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of postnatal multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) compared with prenatal ultrasound (US), surgical findings, and histology, in 33 patients with congenital cystic lung disease. Methods Thirty-three patients, 17 males and 16 females, were evaluated by MDCT. Twenty-seven of these patients underwent prenatal US between week 18 and 22, and between week 32 and 35 of gestation. Lung lobectomy, segmentectomy, atypical resection, lesion resection were performed in 31 patients and surgical specimens were analysed. Results Prenatal US and MDCT correctly diagnosed 76.9 and 94 % of the lesions, respectively. Disagreement occurred in six lesions with prenatal US and in two lesions with MDCT. No statistically significant differences were observed between the two techniques (P = 0.122). Conclusions As most surgeons consider the surgical resection of these lesions mandatory, our study underscores the essential role of imaging, in particular CT, in providing invaluable preoperative information on congenital cystic lung diseases recognised in uterus.

Congenital cystic diseases of the lung

“…Descriptions used for clinical diagnosis are generally based solely on imaging studies. 4,5 As understanding of the developmental and genetic origins of these disorders evolves, terminology and classifications are also revised. 2 The likelihood of missing the diagnosis of congenital cystic lung diseases is high unless kept in mind and investigated with advanced imaging studies.…”