Prenatal sonographic markers of the outcome in fetuses with bronchopulmonary sequestration

Purpose To evaluate the prenatal sonographic predictive markers of the outcome in fetuses with bronchopulmonary sequestration (BPS). Methods BPS size and diameter of the feeding artery (FA) were measured prenatally and postnatally. Velocity of the FA and the left ventricular‐modified myocardial performance index (LV mod‐MPI) were also evaluated prenatally. Results Forty‐seven women were included in the study. Mean gestational age, mass size, diameter and velocity of the FA, and LV mod‐MPI at prenatal diagnosis were 23.5 ± 2.2 weeks, 3.6 ± 8.3 cm, 2.3 ± 0.6 mm, 46.6 ± 15.4 cm/s, and 0.46 ± 0.06, respectively. Mean mass diameter and FA diameter measured on postnatal CT examinations were 3.8 ± 1.0 cm and 2.3 ± 0.7 mm, respectively. Five patients had respiratory symptoms after birth. Twenty children (43%) underwent or were scheduled to undergo mass excision, and the remaining 27 (57%) were doing well without any intervention. There was no neonatal death. LV mod‐MPI at diagnosis, the FA diameter after birth and the serial change in the FA size were significantly associated with postnatal mass excision. Conclusion The FA diameter and LV mod‐MPI may be additional markers for predicting whether fetuses with BPS should undergo mass excision in early childhood or conservative care.