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Computed tomography findings of communicating bronchopulmonary foregut malformation: a retrospective study of 18 patients

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Abstract

Background

Communicating bronchopulmonary foregut malformation is a rare anomaly characterized by a patent congenital communication between the esophagus or stomach and an isolated portion of the respiratory system. An esophagogram is taken as the gold standard for diagnosis. Compared with esophagography, computed tomography (CT) is more widely used and easily obtained, but CT findings have been described as nonspecific.

Purpose

To describe CT findings in 18 patients with communicating bronchopulmonary foregut malformation to assist with early diagnosis.

Material and methods

A retrospective review of 18 patients who had proven communicating bronchopulmonary foregut malformation between January 2006 and December 2021 was conducted. For each patient, the medical records, including demographics, clinical manifestations, upper gastrointestinal radiography, magnetic resonance imaging and CT findings, were reviewed.

Results

Among the 18 patients, there were 8 males. The right to left ratio was 3.5:1. An entire lung was involved in 10 patients, a lobe or a segment was involved in 7 patients and an ectopic lesion was located in the right neck in 1 patient. The isolated lung may arise from the upper esophagus, mid-esophagus, lower esophagus or stomach, which were detected in 1, 3, 13, and 1 patient, respectively. On chest CT, an extra bronchus which did not arise from the trachea was detected in 14 patients. Contrast-enhanced chest CT was performed in 17 patients, the isolated lung receiving its blood supply from the pulmonary artery in 13 patients, the systemic artery in 11 patients and both pulmonary and systemic arteries in 7 patients.

Conclusions

The presence of an extra bronchus, which does not arise from the trachea, highly suggests the diagnosis of communicating bronchopulmonary foregut malformation. Contrast-enhanced chest CT can provide accurate information regarding the airways, lung parenchyma and vascular structures that is useful to plan surgery.

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Funding

The Special Fund of The Pediatric Medical Coordinated Development Center of Beijing Municipal Administration, No.: XTCX201814. Beijing Hospitals Authority’s Ascent Plan, Code: DFL20221002.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, National Center for Children’s Health, Beijing Children’s Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 56, Nanlishilu Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100045, People’s Republic of China

    Zhonglong Han, Tong Yu, Shuangfeng Yang & Yun Peng

  2. Department of Neonatal Surgery, Beijing Children’s Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children’s Health, Beijing, China

    Jinshi Huang

  3. Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Center for Children’s Health, Beijing Children’s Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100045, China

    Dingyi Liu

  4. Department of Pathology, Beijing Children’s Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children’s Health, Beijing, China

    Libing Fu

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  1. Zhonglong Han
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  2. Tong Yu
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  7. Yun Peng
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Correspondence to Yun Peng.

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Han, Z., Yu, T., Huang, J. et al. Computed tomography findings of communicating bronchopulmonary foregut malformation: a retrospective study of 18 patients. Pediatr Radiol 53, 1063–1075 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-023-05610-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-023-05610-z

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