Bilateral Type 2 Congenital Pulmonary Airway Malformation with Multicystic Dysplastic Kidney: A Fetal Autopsy Case Report

Authors

  • Hema Shantagiri Department of Pathology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belagavi, Karnataka, India
  • Sneha Soney Department of Pathology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belagavi, Karnataka, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21276/apalm.3884

Keywords:

congenital pulmonary airway malformation, congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation, multicystic dysplastic kidney, fetal autopsy, congenital anomalies

Abstract

Congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM), previously known as congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation, is a rare developmental anomaly of the lower respiratory tract characterized by cystic proliferation of terminal bronchioles. It is commonly diagnosed during antenatal ultrasonography in the second trimester (anomaly scan). Multicystic dysplastic kidney (MCDK) is a developmental anomaly resulting from abnormal interaction between the ureteric bud and metanephric mesenchyme during renal embryogenesis.

We report a rare case of bilateral CPAM type 2 associated with unilateral MCDK detected in a fetus at 19 weeks and 6 days of gestation. A 33-year-old gravida 3 para 2 woman presented with absent perception of fetal movements, and ultrasonography revealed multiple fetal anomalies. The pregnancy was medically terminated, and a female fetus weighing 340 g was received for autopsy. Gross examination showed multiple cystic lesions in both lungs and an enlarged cystic left kidney. Histopathological examination confirmed bilateral CPAM Type 2 and multicystic dysplastic kidney.

The coexistence of pulmonary and renal developmental anomalies is rarely reported and likely reflects a shared disturbance in early embryogenesis. Recognition of such associations is important for accurate prenatal diagnosis and counselling.

References

1. Dehner LP, Schultz KAP, Hill DA. Congenital Pulmonary Airway Malformations With a Reconsideration and Current Perspective on the Stocker Classification. Pediatr Dev Pathol. 2023 May-Jun;26(3):241-9. doi: 10.1177/10935266221146823.

2. Stocker JT. Congenital pulmonary airway malformation—a new name for and an expanded classification of congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung. Histopathology. 2002 Oct;41:424-31.

3. Schweitzer, S., Stiller, M., Lacher, M. et al. Comprehensive morphological, immunohistochemical, and molecular characterization of congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM). Virchows Arch.2025 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-025-04131-4

4. Kopač M, Kordič R. Associated Anomalies and Complications of Multicystic Dysplastic Kidney. Pediatric Reports. 2022; 14(3):375-9. https://doi.org/10.3390/pediatric14030044

5. Kahraman NC, Tonyalı NV, Orgul G, et al. Prenatal diagnosis of congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM) types: Case series. Eastern Journal Of Medicine. 2024. doi:10.5505/ejm.2024.28913

6. Pogoriler J, Swarr D, Kreiger P,et al. Congenital Cystic Lung Lesions: Redefining the Natural Distribution of Subtypes and Assessing the Risk of Malignancy. Am J Surg Pathol. 2019 Jan;43(1):47-55. doi: 10.1097/PAS.0000000000000992.

7. David M, Lamas-Pinheiro R, Henriques-Coelho T. Prenatal and Postnatal Management of Congenital Pulmonary Airway Malformation. Neonatology. 2016;110:101 - 115. doi:10.1159/000440894

8. Fourikou, M., Dotis, J. From Genes to Malformations: Molecular Mechanisms Driving the Pathogenesis of Congenital Anomalies of the Kidney and Urinary Tract. International Journal of Molecular Sciences.2026;27(1):17. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27010017.

9. Zhang G, Lou L, Shen L, et al. The underlying molecular mechanism of ciliated epithelium dysfunction and TGF-β signaling in children with congenital pulmonary airway malformations. Scientific Reports. 2024;14. 10.1038/s41598-024-54924-x

Downloads

Published

06-07-2026

Issue

Section

Case Report / Case Series

How to Cite

1.
Bilateral Type 2 Congenital Pulmonary Airway Malformation with Multicystic Dysplastic Kidney: A Fetal Autopsy Case Report. Ann of Pathol and Lab Med [Internet]. 2026 Jul. 6 [cited 2026 Jul. 6];13(7):C183-C187. Available from: https://pacificejournals.com/journal/index.php/apalm/article/view/3884