If your child has been born with a congenital lung abnormality, or if a lung abnormality such as congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM) has been found on a scan, you may have lots of questions.
On this page, we answer common questions from parents, including:
- What are congenital lung abnormalities?
- What are congenital pulmonary airway malformations (CPAM)?
- How common are they?
- What causes them?
- What are the symptoms?
- How are they diagnosed?
- How are they treated?
- Long-term outlook and complications
- Further information and support
What are congenital lung abnormalities?
Congenital lung abnormalities are lung problems from birth. They happen when tissues in the lungs or airways haven’t developed properly during pregnancy. What causes them isn’t known.
There are several different types of congenital lung abnormality. For example, there could be a problem with:
- the lungs
- the airways
- the blood supply to the lungs or the airways.
The most common type of congenital lung abnormality is congenital pulmonary airway malformations or CPAM. CPAM affects the lungs and airways.
What are congenital pulmonary airway malformations (CPAM)?
Congenital pulmonary airway malformations (CPAM) are abnormal areas of tissue (lesions) on the lung. They happen when the airway and surrounding lung tissue does not develop properly.
Congenital = something the baby is born with
Pulmonary = affects the lungs
CPAM are the most common type of congenital lung abnormality. Most babies with CPAM can be delivered normally and will not have any obvious symptoms after they are born. CPAM are usually detected before your baby is born, at the 20-week prenatal scan. They often get larger during the last trimester of pregnancy, before shrinking again before birth.
There are different types of CPAM. A single CPAM can be ‘hybrid’, meaning having multiple different tissues in it. Doctors will not know for certain exactly which type of CPAM your baby is affected by unless the decision is to remove it by an operation after birth.
At some time after birth (timing will vary between different hospitals), your child will have a scan to find out more about the CPAM. A chest CT scan with an injection of dye will show the abnormality. A type of dye called contrast is injected to help the blood vessels show up on the scan. The injection will only last a few seconds, and the scan itself is painless.
Different types of CPAM that may show up on a chest CT scan include:
- bronchogenic cysts: this is when pockets of tissue called cysts develop on the bronchial tree (the system of airways called bronchi and bronchioles)
- bronchial atresia (absent bronchus): this is when one or more airways at the very end of the bronchial tree (peripheral bronchi) are missing and the airway beyond the blockage swells by ongoing production of lung fluid
- bronchopulmonary sequestration: this is when a mass of abnormal lung tissue develops next to the lung, or inside one lung. It’s usually solid rather than air filled and doesn’t function or connect with the rest of the breathing system
- congenital cystic adenomatous malformation (CCAM): this is when pockets of tissue called cysts develop in one or more sections (lobes) of the lung
- congenital lobar overinflation (CLO): this is when one of the lobes of the lung gets overinflated. This squashes and moves the lung tissues next to it and causes breathing difficulties. It’s sometimes known as congenital lobar emphysema (CLE) or congenital large hyperlucent lobe (CLHL).
- foregut duplication cyst: this is when during pregnancy, some parts of the unborn baby’s lung develop abnormally. At first, in the very early stages of development, the lung bud (which goes on to form the lungs) grows out of what will become the gut. This means that some lung cystic abnormalities look like parts of the intestine when removed and examined under a microscope.
CPAM or cancer?
A rare cancer of young children known as pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB) can sometimes look like a CPAM. If a CPAM has been diagnosed at your prenatal scan, it’s very unlikely to be PPB.
Once your baby is born, if doctors find a CPAM with a pneumothorax (collapsed lung), doctors will consider this very rare diagnosis and carry out tests to rule out or confirm PPB. Other cancers can happen in CPAMs, but these are very rare, and you will need to discuss this with your paediatrician.
How common are CPAM and other congenital lung abnormalities?
Congenital lung abnormalities are rare. Researchers estimate they may affect about one in every 10,000 babies born.
There are many different types of congenital lung abnormality. Each type is very rare. We don’t have accurate figures for how common each abnormality is, but CPAM is the most common.
What causes congenital lung abnormalities?
It’s not known what causes congenital lung problems.
Some congenital lung abnormalities happen together with other congenital abnormalities, such as heart problems.
Researchers are working to understand more about how congenital lung abnormalities happen. In some cases, they have identified faulty genes and processes that cause the lungs to develop abnormally.
What are the symptoms of congenital lung abnormalities?
Children’s symptoms will vary depending on the condition. Congenital lung abnormalities may be found before birth, in a newborn baby or later in life.
Signs before birth
In some babies, congenital lung abnormalities may be picked up on antenatal scans before they are born. This is usually the case with CPAM.
Signs in new-born babies
Most babies with CPAM have no obvious signs of chest problems.
Some babies with other congenital lung abnormalities will have breathing problems as soon as they are born. Symptoms can include:
- noisy breathing, known as stridor
- a blue colour on your skin, lips, tongue, or gums (cyanosis).
Sometimes a baby may have significant breathing difficulties and may need help with their breathing. This might include ventilation (a breathing machine) or taking oxygen through a face mask or tubes in their nose.
Signs in older children and adults
Most children with CPAM will not experience symptoms.
In older children and adults, symptoms of congenital lung abnormalities can include:
- infections that keep coming back in the affected area of the lung
- bronchiectasis
- asthma-like symptoms (coughing, wheezing, breathlessness) that do not respond to asthma treatment.
How are congenital lung abnormalities diagnosed?
Lung problems can sometimes show up on an ultrasound scan when the baby is still in the womb. This is usually the case with CPAM.
For children, doctors might use a bronchoscopy (a camera test to look inside the airways) if they think your child may have an upper airway abnormality.
How are congenital lung abnormalities treated?
Babies and children with CPAM and other congenital lung abnormalities will usually go to specialist centres to investigate and manage their condition. If the abnormality is found on an antenatal scan, the pregnancy will be monitored, and arrangements may be made to deliver the baby in a specialist centre.
Treatment before birth (antenatal treatment)
Very rarely babies need treatment before they’re born - this is called antenatal treatment. For example, in unborn babies with a bronchopulmonary sequestration, doctors might block the abnormal vessels while they are still in the womb.
Treatment after birth
Treatment for CPAM after your child is born will depend on their condition and if they have symptoms.
A few babies with congenital lung abnormalities may need emergency surgery when they are born. Others may have an operation because of features shown on a CT scan or following any complications that may develop after they’re born.
If your child has symptoms, the CPAM should be removed surgically.
As your child grows up, if they do not have any symptoms, they may not need immediate treatment and will have regular check-ups to monitor their condition.
Some children may be offered surgery before any symptoms show to remove the CPAM. This may be to try and reduce infections that keep coming back. You should be involved in making the decision with the health care professional. Policies on surgery before any symptoms show differ between treatment centres, and there is not enough evidence to help decide which CPAMs are at risk of complications. You should ask your paediatrician to explain the risks and benefits of surgery.
Other than surgery, your child will need treatment for any complications that happen related to their congenital lung abnormality. For example, they’ll need antibiotics if there is an infection in the affected area. However, once a CPAM gets infected, it likely needs to be removed surgically to stop repeat infections.
Long-term outlook and complications of CPAM
Some people live with congenital lung abnormalities for a long time without having any symptoms at all. Their condition might be discovered by chance when they have a chest X-ray (or especially in adults, a CT scan) for a different reason.
The long-term outlook and any long-term complications for CPAM and other congenital lung abnormalities will depend on the type of condition your child has. Generally, when CPAM is diagnosed prenatally (before your child is born), the long-term outlook is good. However, a few types of CPAM (around 5%) can develop complications and it is not known which. You should speak to your doctor or nurse for advice specific to your child’s condition.
More information and support
Agree a plan with your child’s doctor or nurse so you know what to do if they become unwell, and who to call if you need extra support. When your child is diagnosed with a chronic lung condition, it can be a very worrying time. It’s important you take time to care for yourself, as well as your child. If you feel you’re struggling to cope, talk to your doctor or another health care professional. You can also always call our friendly helpline team on 0300 222 5800 – we’re open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (except bank holidays).
You may also want to join our Parent and Carer Support Network which provides support and a space for parents and carers of children with lung conditions to come together.