Pulmonary sequestration

Last revised by Arlene Campos on 5 Mar 2024

Pulmonary sequestration, also called accessory lung, refers to the aberrant formation of segmental lung tissue that has no connection with the bronchial tree or pulmonary arteries. It is a bronchopulmonary foregut malformation (BPFM).

There are two types:

The estimated incidence is 0.1%. Some authors propose a greater male prevalence (this may be the case for the extralobar type) ref. The age of presentation is dependent on the type of sequestration (see below).

Associated disease is common with the extralobar type (50-60%):

Extralobar sequestration more commonly presents in newborns as respiratory distress, cyanosis, or infection ref. Intralobar sequestration presents in late childhood or adolescence with recurrent pulmonary infections ref, and in adults with cough, chest/back pain, dyspnea, and fever 16.

Pulmonary sequestration can be divided into two distinct groups based on the relationship of the aberrant segmental lung tissue to the pleura:

  • intralobar sequestration

    • accounts for the majority (75-85% of all sequestrations 4,5,7)

    • present later in childhood with recurrent infections

  • extralobar sequestration

    • less common (15-25% of all sequestrations 4,5,7)

    • usually present in the neonatal period with respiratory distress, cyanosis, or infection

    • recognized male predilection (M:F ratio ~4:1)

    • can be infradiaphragmatic in ~10% of cases

The two types of sequestration are similar in their relationship to the bronchial tree and arterial supply/venous drainage but differ in their relationship to the pleura.

By definition, there is no communication with the tracheobronchial tree. In the vast majority of cases, the abnormal lung tissue has a systemic arterial supply which is usually a branch of the aorta:

  • intralobar sequestrations

  • extralobar sequestrations

    • venous drainage most commonly through the systemic veins into the right atrium (but is variable)

    • separated from any surrounding lung by its own pleura

Overall, sequestration preferentially affects the lower lobes. 60% of intralobar sequestrations affect the left lower lobe, and 40% the right lower lobe. Extralobar sequestrations almost always affect the left lower lobe, however, ~10% of extralobar sequestrations can be subdiaphragmatic 8.

Almost all cases occur sporadically.

  • often show a triangular opacity in the affected segment

  • may show cystic spaces if infected

  • both intralobar and extra lobar sequestration can rarely have air bronchograms as they may acquire a connection to the bronchial tree due to an infective process or, rarely, they can have foregut communication (esophagus or stomach) as part of hybrid lesion

The sequestrated portion of the lung is usually more echogenic than the rest of the lung. On antenatal ultrasound, an extralobar sequestration may be seen as early as 16 weeks gestation and typically appears as a solid well-defined triangular echogenic mass 8. Color Doppler may identify a feeding vessel (in-utero cases) from the aorta. If the sequestration is subdiaphragmatic, it may appear as an echogenic intra-abdominal mass.

  • cross-sectional imaging frequently demonstrates the arterial supply by the descending aorta

  • they may arise below the diaphragm in 20% of patients

  • usually does not contain air unless infected

  • 3D reconstructions can be particularly helpful in detecting 7

    • anomalous arterial vessels

    • concurrent anomalous veins 

    • differentiating between intralobar and extralobar sequestrations

Not part of the routine investigation but is the gold standard in determining arterial supply.

  • T1: the sequestrated segment tends to be of comparatively high signal to normal lung tissue 14

  • T2: also tends to be of comparatively high signal 14

  • MRA: can be helpful in demonstrating anomalous arterial supply

Traditionally treatment has been surgical resection. Extralobar sequestrations with their separate pleural investments can usually be removed sparing normal lung tissue, although, with an intralobar type, segmental resection or even lobectomy will be necessary.

Coil embolization has also been successfully trialled in selected cases 4. Spontaneous involution has been reported in occasional cases 10.

in 1946, Pryce used the term pulmonary sequestration for the first time 16.

General imaging differential considerations include:

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