Cystic lung lesions (paediatric)
Updates to Article Attributes
Cystic lesions in paediatric patients are usually congenital lesions and, as such, can be seen antenatally and following delivery.
Pathology
Aetiology
Congenital
These congenital lesions are predominantly covered by the overarching diagnosis of bronchopulmonary foregut malformation. This is a heterogeneous group of conditions that result from embryonic foregut maldevelopment and comprises:
- bronchogenic cysts
- bronchopulmonary sequestration
- congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM)
- congenital lobar overinflation (previously called congenital lobar emphysema)
- bronchial atresia
- congenital pulmonary cysts
In addition, conditions outwithwithin this spectrum also cause cystic lung lesions:
It is important to remember that there are other causes of cystic lesions on a chest x-ray, including:
Acquired
Of course, even though the majority of cases are congenital, there are plenty of examples of cystic lung lesions that are acquired:
- pneumatocele: post-pneumonic (Staphylococcus spp.) or following trauma
- infective cavitation: much less common than in adults
- abscess with air-fluid interface: if the child is supine, the gas at the top of the cavity will have the appearance of a cyst on the chest x-ray
- hydatid disease 2,3
- pulmonary interstitial emphysema: a history of neonatal mechanical ventilation or prematurity with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) will usually be present
-<li><a href="/articles/congenital-lobar-overinflation">congenital lobar emphysema</a></li>- +<li>
- +<a href="/articles/congenital-lobar-overinflation">congenital lobar overinflation</a> (previously called congenital lobar emphysema)</li>
-</ul><p>In addition, conditions outwith this spectrum also cause cystic lung lesions:</p><ul><li><a href="/articles/congenital-cystic-bronchiectasis">congenital cystic bronchiectasis</a></li></ul><p>It is important to remember that there are other causes of cystic lesions on a chest x-ray, including:</p><ul><li><a href="/articles/congenital-diaphragmatic-hernia">congenital diaphragmatic hernia</a></li></ul><h6>Acquired</h6><p>Of course, even though the majority of cases are congenital, there are plenty of examples of cystic lung lesions that are acquired:</p><ul>- +</ul><p>In addition, conditions within this spectrum also cause cystic lung lesions:</p><ul><li><a href="/articles/congenital-cystic-bronchiectasis">congenital cystic bronchiectasis</a></li></ul><p>It is important to remember that there are other causes of cystic lesions on a chest x-ray, including:</p><ul><li><a href="/articles/congenital-diaphragmatic-hernia">congenital diaphragmatic hernia</a></li></ul><h6>Acquired</h6><p>Of course, even though the majority of cases are congenital, there are plenty of examples of cystic lung lesions that are acquired:</p><ul>
-<a href="/articles/pulmonary-interstitial-emphysema">pulmonary interstitial emphysema</a>: a history of neonatal mechanical ventilation or prematurity with <a title="Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS)" href="/articles/respiratory-distress-syndrome">respiratory distress syndrome (RDS)</a> will usually be present</li>- +<a href="/articles/pulmonary-interstitial-emphysema">pulmonary interstitial emphysema</a>: a history of neonatal mechanical ventilation or prematurity with <a href="/articles/respiratory-distress-syndrome">respiratory distress syndrome (RDS)</a> will usually be present</li>