J Korean Soc Med Ultrasound.
2000 Sep;19(3):203-208.
Ultrasonographic Findings of Spontaneous Regression of
Congenital Lung Masses in Fetus
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Radiology, Samsung Cheil Hospital , Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine.
Abstract
- PURPOSE
Increasing number of fetuses with an echogenic lung mass have been reported to show spontaneous re-gression
or disappearance of the mass in fetal life. The present study was performed to evaluate how often and to
which extent the lung masses regress and , if so, when do they regress.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We prospectively studied 12 consecutive fetuses with a lung mass with regular follow-up
sonography in a 3-4 weeks interval until delivery. We evaluated the changes in size and echogenicity of the mass
throughout the pregnancy. We also investigated the mass by using color and power Doppler to detect any aber-rant
vascular supply to the lesion.
RESULTS
The mass was found at 22.2 +/- 2.3 weeks of gestation. The mass size at initial examination was average 30
x 25 x 33 mm. All were echogenic masses. The mass contained cystic components in 5 cases. Color Doppler
exmination documented aberrant systemic arterial supply to the mass in 5 cases. The mass could not be identi-fied
in 7 cases and showed more than 50% of size reduction in 3 follow-up sonography. The mass did not show
significant change in its size in only 2 cases. The mass became smaller at the follow-up in 32.2 +/- 4.3 weeks.
Complete disappearance of the mass, when happened, was found at 34.1 +/- 2.5 weeks.
CONCLUSION
Fetal lung mass occured as a large echogenic mass with displacement of the mediastinal structures to
the other side. The mass regressed in 83% of the cases during fetal life, with a complete sonographic disappear-ance
in 58%.