Congenital Lung Malformations

Abstract

Congenital lung and chest cage malformations encompass a wide range of diseases caused during the development of the lung and rib cage structures. These anomalies are manifested in different ways, depending on when they are originated and at what level they affect the tracheobronchial path. The concept of congenital lung and chest cage considers lesions of the lung parenchyma: cystic adenomatoid malformation, lung sequestration, and congenital lobar emphysema, along other less common lesions: intestinal duplication and bronchogenic cyst. Antenatal diagnosis is common because of the routine obstetric ultrasound, and therefore many authors have proposed the name of genetic malformations, which would be appropriate. Also, the finding of asymptomatic lesions in infants and children is not infrequent. There is a consensus for surgery repair in patients with symptoms secondary to a congenital malformation. However, in asymptomatic patients, management will depend on location, type of lesions, and risk for surgery.