Pulmonary sequestration.

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary sequestration is a relatively rare congenital abnormality. It is a cystic mass of nonfunctioning lung tissue which lacks an obvious communication with the tracheobronchial tree and which receives all or most of its arterial blood from anomalous systemic vessels.

METHODS

Six patients with intralobar pulmonary sequestration were treated at this Hospital from 1982 to 1993. The two males and four females had ages ranging from 15 years to 56 years. Five of the six patients were symptomatic, with histories of chronic cough, intermittent fever, hemoptysis, and/or pleuric chest pain. The other patient was asymptomatic. Locations of the lesion included the left lower lobe in three, the right lower lobe in two and the right middle lobe in one.

RESULTS

All patients received surgical intervention. Lobectomies were performed in five, and segmentectomy in one. There was no postoperative complication or mortality and all have remained asymptomatic during the follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONS

A high index of suspicion is the most important element in the diagnosis of pulmonary sequestration. Angiography is mandatory to demonstrate the aberrant arterial supply and the venous drainage of pulmonary sequestration. Surgery should be performed early in order to reduce potentially life threatening obstruction and infection, and hasten the return of normal pulmonary function.