Congenital Pulmonary Airway Malformation Type 4: A Case Report

Congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM) is a very rare pulmonary disease in children. It is often misdiagnosed as a persistent and localized pneumothorax without any further pathological diagnosis. Malignancy and frequent airway infections are major concerns in these patients. Surgical excision is recommended to make a definite diagnosis and exclude hidden malignancies, and is also the treatment of choice. Herein, we report a 1-year-old girl presenting with an acute airway infection. Localized radiolucency was incidentally noted in the left upper lung field on a chest radiograph. No change in the radiolucent lesion was noted after three months of observation, so she received surgical excision. Histological examination disclosed type 4 CPAM without a malignant component thereby avoiding the possibility of repeated airway infection. After surgery her general condition was good, and no new respiratory symptoms were noted after follow-up for one year. (J Pediatr Resp Dis 2013;9:48-52)