Intrauterine therapy for macrocystic congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung.

OBJECTIVE

To report on our experiences with thoracoamniotic shunting and/or the injection of a sclerosing agent (OK-432) to treat fetuses diagnosed with macrocystic congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation (CCAM) of the lung.

METHODS

A retrospective study was undertaken in six fetuses with macrocystic CCAM at our institute that had been confirmed by postnatal surgery between August 1999 and January 2012.

RESULTS

Six fetuses that had been diagnosed with macrocystic CCAM were analyzed. The median gestational age at diagnosis was 23.5 weeks (range, 19.5-31.0 weeks), and at the time of primary treatment was 24.0 weeks (range, 20.5-31.0 weeks). The mean size of the largest cyst at the initial assessment was 42.5±15 mm. Four fetuses were associated with mediastinal shifting, and one also showed fetal hydrops. All fetuses underwent a shunting procedure within the cysts, one case among them was also treated with OK-432. After the completion of all procedures, the mean size of the largest cyst was all decreased (14.2±12 mm). The median gestational age at delivery was 38.0 weeks (range, 32.4-40.3 weeks). All of the newborns underwent the surgical resection at a median age of 6 days (range, 1-136 days) and are currently doing well without any complications.

CONCLUSION

We suggest that intrauterine decompression therapy to manage fetal macrocystic CCAM is recommendable treatment for good perinatal outcome.