Intralobar pulmonary sequestration: incidental finding in an asymptomatic patient

Imaging and pathological characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of pulmonary sequestration-A retrospective study of 13 cases

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to summarize and analyze the characteristics of pulmonary sequestration to improve our understanding of this disease.

METHODS

Between January 2019 and April 2023, the clinical data of 13 patients with pulmonary sequestration underwent surgical treatment at the First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University.

RESULTS

The male-to-female ratio was 4:9, the age was 0.5 to 60 years, and the average age was 38 ± 19 years. There were 10 and 3 cases of intralobar and extralobar pulmonary sequestration, respectively. Chest enhanced computed tomography (CT) and three-dimensional vascular reconstruction showed that the abnormal blood vessels were derived from the descending thoracic aorta in nine cases and from other blood vessels in four cases. Three patients underwent thoracoscopic lobectomy, two underwent thoracoscopic segmentectomy, and eight underwent thoracoscopic wedge resection. All the patients successfully completed the surgery and were discharged postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS

Some patients with pulmonary sequestration exhibit no obvious symptoms. Patients with clinical symptoms are easily confused for pneumonia, bronchial cysts, lung abscesses, and lung tumors; therefore, patients with pulmonary sequestration are prone to missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis. Currently, enhanced chest CT combined with three-dimensional vascular reconstruction can accurately show the course, branches, and relationship with the mass of the feeding artery. Routine pathological examination is helpful to further clarify the diagnosis of pulmonary sequestration. Minimally invasive thoracoscopic surgery is the preferred treatment for patients with pulmonary sequestration. Surgical resection is safe and feasible, and satisfactory results are typically obtained.