Spontaneous involution of pulmonary sequestration in children: a report of two cases and review of the literature.
BACKGROUND
Two cases of pulmonary sequestration which regressed spontaneously are presented.


OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate the value of imaging studies in the diagnosis and follow-up of some forms of congenital masses of the lung in asymptomatic patients.


METHODS
We reviewed the clinical records and imaging studies of two asymptomatic children, one newborn and the other 3 months old, with thoracic masses which demonstrated variable degrees of spontaneous involution.


RESULTS
Abdominal ultrasound performed on the newborn with a palpable mass showed a triangular echogenic mass with a large central feeding vessel arising from the aorta. The mass had disappeared on follow-up US exam performed 6 years later. CT was performed in the 3-month-old patient with a persistent retrocardiac mass. A soft-tissue density mass in the left pulmonary base with a large feeding vessel arising from the aorta was visualised on contrast-enhanced CT. Five years later, a new CT scan showed significant shrinkage of the mass and no vessel.


CONCLUSIONS
Radiological techniques such as real-time US with Doppler imaging and contrast-enhanced CT may establish the diagnosis of pulmonary sequestration by demonstrating the mass and its systemic vessel, thereby eliminating the need for more aggressive imaging procedures. Partial or total disappearance of these masses represents a further example of involutive pathology and suggests that not all cases of pulmonary sequestration should be surgically treated.
García-Peña
P
P
Hospital Universitari Materno-infantil Vall d'Hebron, Servei de Radiologia Infantil, Pg. Vall d'Hebron 119-129, E-08 035 Barcelona, Spain.
Lucaya
J
J
Hendry
G M
GM
McAndrew
P T
PT
Duran
C
C
D001998:Bronchopulmonary Sequestration / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler