Pulmonary Sequestration

Pulmonary sequestration is a mass of abnormal tissue that forms in or around the lungs. This tissue does not work like normal lung tissue and has no function. Pulmonary sequestration is a condition that develops while a baby is forming during pregnancy.

There are two main types of pulmonary sequestration:

• Intralobar masses are those that grow inside the lung. This is the more common type.
• Extralobar masses develop outside of the lung, but somewhere near it.

The size of the mass can vary. In many cases, the mass does not grow during pregnancy. But sometimes, the mass may become large and push against other organs, such as the heart. In these cases, your doctor may want to monitor the mass during pregnancy.

Pulmonary sequestration is often found on an ultrasound before a baby is born. Once a baby is born, symptoms may include:

• Trouble breathing
• Cough
• Feeding problems
• Frequent lung infections

Please note there are other conditions with similar symptoms. It’s important to see your child’s doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Pulmonary sequestration is a condition a baby is born with. Experts think it occurs when an extra lung bud grows during a baby’s development. It does not usually run in families.

If your baby’s mass is very large or is pushing against other organs, your baby may need treatment before birth (fetal intervention), or your doctor may plan for a special delivery to care for your baby right after birth.

No matter what size the mass is, pulmonary sequestrations need to be removed with surgery. Our experienced surgical team at Connecticut Children’s will work with your family to discuss your child’s treatment options.

• Surgery for intralobar masses usually involves removing part of the lung (segmentectomy) or the entire lobe of the lung (lobectomy).
• For extralobar masses, the pulmonary sequestration is removed using minimally invasive thorascopic surgery.