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The CT appearances of delayed amniotic fluid clearance from the lungs in an infant with absent pulmonary valve and congenital lobar emphysema

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Abstract

Congenital lobar emphysema (CLE) is a cause of severe neonatal respiratory distress. Overexpansion of the affected pulmonary lobe in the fetus is due to narrowing of the airway, with a resultant ‘ball-valve’ effect. At birth, there may be delayed clearance of fetal lung fluid. Early chest radiographs show opacification of the hyperexpanded lobe. The CT findings in the immediate neonatal period have not been previously reported. We describe the imaging in a neonate with tetralogy of Fallot and absent pulmonary valve with secondary CLE. CT demonstrates the hyperexpanded lobe with initial thickening of the interlobular septa and alveolar ground glass attenuation, with subsequent clearing. This resorption of fetal lung fluid via the pulmonary interstitium should not be confused with interstitial lung disease.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Imaging, The Royal Children’s Hospital, Flemington Road, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia

    A. Michelle Fink

  2. University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

    A. Michelle Fink & John Massie

  3. Department of Cardiology, The Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia

    Brian Edis

  4. Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia

    John Massie

  5. Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

    John Massie

Authors
  1. A. Michelle Fink
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  2. Brian Edis
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  3. John Massie
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Correspondence to A. Michelle Fink.

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Fink, A.M., Edis, B. & Massie, J. The CT appearances of delayed amniotic fluid clearance from the lungs in an infant with absent pulmonary valve and congenital lobar emphysema. Pediatr Radiol 35, 891–894 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-005-1469-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-005-1469-8

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