Current approaches to prenatal imaging of lung malformations: a review

INTRODUCTION: Congenital lung malformations are result of developmental disorders at any stage of organ formation. Manifestations of these changes vary significantly: from minimal in size to large space-occupying lesion of the lung, which can cause fetal death or severe postnatal respiratory disorders. In proper time and accurate prenatal diagnosis of lung development abnormalities is one of the fundamental factors determining management of pregnancy and prognosis. OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the most typical features of a wide range of congenital lung anomalies by ultrasound and MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The literature search was performed in open Russian and English databases Medline, PubMed, Web of Science, RSCI, eLIBRARY using keywords and phrases: «prenatal diagnosis», «fetal MRI», «ultrasound diagnostics», «сongenital lung malformations». RESULTS: Based on literature data and our own experience in the use of ultrasound and MRI in diagnosis of сongenital lung malformations, the main signs of normal development and the most specific types of lung anomalies are described. Algorithm for diagnostic search for congenital lung malformations is presented. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound is the main method for diagnosing congenital lung anomalies. Fetal MRI is used to clarify the nature and extent of changes, a more detailed assessment of adjacent organs, also to determine Multiple congenital anomalies. Understanding the characteristics of semiotics of lung malformations and the main signs of these anomalies is a fundamental criterion for prenatal counseling, as well as peri- and postnatal management of this category of patients.