Congenital Pulmonary Airway Malformations

Shaun M Kunisaki, MD, Anne Sescleifer, Mary Catherine Santos, MD, MSEd, Casey M Calkins, MD, Darrell L. Cass, MD, Jordan Jackson , Loren Berman, MD

Introduction

There are many types of congenital lung malformations, originating from insults at different stages of embryonic lung development and affecting unique areas of the bronchopulmonary tree. The most common lesion is the congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM, formerly referred to as congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation or CCAM), followed by bronchopulmonary sequestration, congenital lobar emphysema, bronchogenic cyst, and congenital bronchial atresia. Advances in ultrasound imaging have made prenatal detection of these lesions common and allowed for more precise prenatal measurements to monitor evolution of a lesion throughout pregnancy as well as to guide treatment strategies. Although approaches to prenatal and postnatal management are largely similar across lesions, there are unique features of each that merit specific attention.

see also Pulmonary Resection for Congenital Lesions

Content in this topic is referenced in SCORE Cystic Diseases of the Lung overviewPrenatal Anomalies and Therapy overviewPulmonary Sequestration overviewLobar Emphysema overview

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Last updated: June 6, 2026