Protective effect of fetal pulmonary sequestration in two cases of postnatal manifestation of congenital diaphragmatic hernia

Abstract

We describe two cases of postnatally diagnosed congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) combined with pulmonary sequestration, both of which were diagnosed as isolated pulmonary sequestration on prenatal ultrasound. In these cases, prenatal ultrasonography demonstrated only a hyperechoic mass on the left lower lung and the diaphragm seemed intact. In each case both lungs showed otherwise normal development throughout pregnancy. Pulmonary sequestration may serve as a 'protector', preventing herniation of abdominal contents into the thoracic cavity. The co-occurrence of CDH may be obscured by a lung mass, especially on the left lower lung, and therefore it is necessary to deliver these infants at a tertiary center and parents should be counseled about the possibility of postnatal CDH.