Congenital pulmonary airway malformation in adults: A case series

Abstract

Introduction. Two-thirds of patients with congenital pulmonary airway malformation are asymptomatic at birth, but during life they may develop symptoms such as recurrent respiratory infections. The purpose of this paper is to present three cases of adult patients in whom congenital pulmonary airway malformation was diagnosed and treated at the Institute for Lung Diseases of Vojvodina, along with the clinical course of the disease and the therapeutic procedure. Case Report 1. A 24-year-old female with a medical history of asthma and recurrent signs of lower respiratory tract infections was referred to a thoracic surgeon. Computed tomography of the chest and clinical features were consistent with a congenital lung disease. A left lower video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy was performed. Histopathological analysis confirmed type II congenital pulmonary airway malformation with pulmonary sequestration. Case Report 2. A 41-year-old male with a history of left-sided spontaneous pneumothorax at the age of 16 was referred to a thoracic surgeon due to moderate hemoptysis, one month after hospital treatment of left-sided bronchopneumonia. On chest computed tomography, multiple cystic lesions were found in the left lower lung lobe. Thoracotomy and left lower lobectomy were performed. Histopathological analysis confirmed type I congenital pulmonary airway malformation. Case Report 3. The third patient was a 16-year-old male with a history of juvenile asthma and recurrent right-sided bronchopneumonia. Sings of necrotizing pneumonia, lung abscess, and mediastinal lymphadenomegaly were found in the affected lobe. Thoracotomy and right lower lobectomy were performed. Histopathological analysis confirmed type II congenital pulmonary airway malformation. Conclusion. In children and young adults with recurrent small airway inflammation, congenital lung malformation should be considered in the differential diagnosis.