Prenatal diagnosis of fetal unilateral lung agenesis complicated with cardiac malposition

Abstract

Background

Fetal unilateral lung agenesis, complicated with cardiac shifting, is a rare anomaly, the diagnosis of which remains a challenge for many sonographers in routine screening programs. The present study describes a systematic approach for the diagnosis of fetal unilateral lung agenesis and cardiac malpositions in routine prenatal screening.

Methods

A total of 18 cases of fetal unilateral lung agenesis complicated with cardiac malposition were reviewed. A systematic method was proposed to identify the fetal left side and right side according to the fetal head position and posture by acquiring a long axis and transverse view of the fetus. Fetal unilateral lung agenesis was diagnosed by evaluation of the ipsilateral pulmonary artery. The diagnosis was confirmed by postnatal echocardiography, digital radiology, and computed tomography after birth or by autopsy findings.

Results

The left-sided fetal heart with the cardiac apex rotating to the left and posterior were confirmed in all 7 left lung agenesis cases, while the rightward shifting of the fetal heart together with the cardiac axis deviating to the right were confirmed in all 11 cases of right lung agenesis. The disappearance of the ipsilateral pulmonary artery was confirmed in all 18 cases of unilateral lung agenesis. Cardiac anomalies were present in a total of 7 of the18 cases of lung agenesis with 4 of 7 in cases of left lung agenesis and 3 of 11 in cases of right agenesis.

Conclusions

The systematic approach introduced in the current report is helpful in the diagnosis of fetal unilateral lung agenesis complicated with cardiac malposition. The information provided by this study may be helpful to better understand unilateral lung agenesis anatomically and to facilitate its potential examination.

Background

Prenatal diagnosis of cardiac malposition is one of the most challenging issues in obstetric sonography. This condition is often missed in routine screening programs due to the variable fetal positions in the uterus, particularly by inexperienced sonographers. Generally, fetal cardiac malposition can be classified into two main types [1, 2]: One is caused by intrinsic congenital heart diseases, such as isolated dextrocardia, situs inversus, isolated levocardia, etc., while others are caused by extracardiac malformations such as unilateral lung agenesis, diaphragmatic hernia, etc. In this circumstance, the mediastinal shift leads to abnormal cardiac position in the thorax [3].

Lung agenesis is a rare developmental anomaly and prenatal diagnosis is difficult for many sonographers during routine screening. It is characterized by a complete absence of a lung and bronchi, and no blood supply to the affected side, either the left, the right, or bilateral side. It is often associated with a constellation of anomalies in other systems including the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal (tracheoesophageal fistula, imperforate anus), genitourinary, or skeletal (limb anomalies, vertebral segmentation anomalies) [4]. The estimated incidence is 1 per 10000–15000 autopsies [5].

The primary objective of the current study is to describe a systematic approach to diagnose fetal unilateral lung agenesis complicated with cardiac malposition.

Methods

Study population

A total of 5790 fetuses were examined via fetal echocardiography in our hospital in the time frame between May 2006 and March 2012. Routine fetal echocardiography was performed in all fetuses and the data saved as video clips. A total of 25 of the 5790 fetuses were lost to follow-up. Prenatal diagnosis in the others was confirmed by postnatal color Doppler echocardiography (CDE), digital radiography (DR), and computed tomography (CT) after birth or by autopsy. In total, 18 cases of fetal unilateral lung agenesis complicated with cardiac malposition were retrospectively reviewed in this study.

Ethics approval

The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University. Written informed consent was obtained from the parents for publication of clinical details, clinical images and videos.

Assessment of fetal cardiac position

The patients were examined using ultrasound systems (Voluson 730 Expert and Voluson E8, GE Healthcare, Kretztechnik, Zipf, Austria), equipped with a 4–8 MHz transabdominal transducer.

The technique used in this study to determine fetal cardiac position in the thorax relied on several parameters, including fetal head position relative to the maternal pelvis (cephalic, breech, or transverse lie) and posture (supine, prone, or side lie), transducer orientation, and display format of the image on the screen. The protocol followed in our study was as follows: the examiner was on the right side of the patient with the head of the patient on the same side as the ultrasound equipment. The transducer orientation marker indicates the direction that was displayed in the left side of the video screen and the direction of the beam on the screen is from top to bottom so that the upper area of the screen displayed the anterior part of the subject from the perspective of the operator, not the subject (Figure 1).

Figure 1

The transducer orientation and display format of the image on the screen. The orientation marker is depicted as the gray bar on the transducer. Transducer orientation marker indicates the direction that was displayed in the left side of the video screen. The direction of the beam on the screen is from top to bottom, which means the upper area of the screen displays the anterior part of the subject (from the perspective of the operator).

Step 1

The first step was to determine fetal head position and posture. The transducer was oriented to in order to observe the long axis of the fetus. In circumstance showed in Figure 2A, the orientation marker of the transducer was directed toward the upper side so that the fetal head was displayed at the right side of the screen and the buttocks on the left side of the screen.

Figure 2

Fetuses in various positions in uterus and the corresponding sonographic images from transverse plane at thorax level. In panel A and B, the fetal spine is on the left side with the position of the fetus relative to the maternal pelvis is cephalic (panel A) or breech (panel B). In panel C and D, the fetal spine is on the right side with the position of the fetus relative to the maternal pelvis is breech (panel C) or cephalic (panel D). LA, left atrium; LV, left ventricle; RA, right atrium; RV, right ventricle; Sp, spine.

Step 2

The transducer was then rotated 90°counterclockwise from the initial position in order to see the transverse plane of the fetus. In circumstance showed in Figure 2A, the orientation marker of the transducer was directed toward the left side so that the spine was located on the right side of the screen, and the fetal abdominal or thorax area was on the left side of the screen. The upper area of the screen showed the right side of the fetus that was first examined by the beam; the lower area of the screen showed the left side of the fetus with the spine as the landmark. The position of the heart and gastric vacuole could then be established.

Figure 2B-D shows the fetal cardiac position in other common circumstances.

Assessment of cardiac axis and bilateral lung

The fetal heart and the bilateral lung could be visualized in the transverse plane at the thorax level. Normally, the cardiac axis is about 45° on the left side. The ratio of the heart to the lung in the left and right is about 1:1:1 under normal circumstances.

Assessment of structures of the heart and great vessels

In order to exclude fetal congenital heart disease after determination of the cardiac and visceral position, a four chamber view, the left and right outflow tract views, the three-vessel view, the aortic arch long axis view and the ductal arch view were acquired in all fetuses.

Under normal circumstances, the main pulmonary artery (MPA), the left pulmonary artery (LPA) and right pulmonary artery (RPA) could be visualized at the right outflow tract view. Pulmonary artery bifurcation is a characteristic anatomical structure that could be detected very easily.

Results

The gestational age among the 18 cases of unilateral lung agenesis ranged from 18 to 35 (mean=28) weeks. The maternal age ranged from 25 to 37 (mean=32) years. Findings from the eighteen cases are summarized in Table 1. In cases of left lung agenesis, we confirmed that the fetal heart was on the left while the cardiac apex was rotated to the left and posterior at various angles (Figure 3). An additional movie file showed this in more detail [see Additional file 1: Video]. The MPA and RPA were detected however the LPA remained invisible in all the seven cases of left lung agenesis (Figure 4). We also provided an additional movie file to show more details [see Additional file 2: Video]. In the cases of the right lung agenesis, we confirmed that the fetal heart was shifted to the right with cardiac apex rotation to the right at various angles (Figure 5). The MPA and LPA were seen in ten cases and only the MPA could be detected in one case. The RPA remained invisible in all the eleven cases of right lung agenesis. Cardiac anomalies were present in a total of 7 of the18 cases of lung agenesis: 4 of 7 in cases of left lung agenesis and 3 of 11 in cases of right lung agenesis. All cases were confirmed by postnatal CDE, DR, and CT or by autopsy findings.

Table 1 Ultrasound appearance and outcomes of fetal unilateral lung agenesis with cardiac malposition in the current series

Figure 3

Visualization of the position of the fetal heart, the right lung and the spine in the case of fetus at 27 gestational weeks diagnosed with left lung agenesis. At the transverse plane of thorax level, the right lung was not detected and the fetal heart moved toward the left and posterior. The cardiac axis was about 120°toward left side. LV, left ventricle; RV, right ventricle; Sp, spine.

Figure 4

Visualization of the pulmonary artery in the same fetus as Figure 3 with left lung agenesis. The right pulmonary artery originates from the main pulmonary artery, while the left pulmonary artery was not detected. MPA, main pulmonary artery; LV, left ventricle; RPA, right pulmonary artery; RV, right ventricle.

Figure 5

Ultrasonographic image of a 35-gestational-week fetus diagnosed with right lung agenesis. At the transverse plane of the thorax level, a right-sided heart beside the left lung was demonstrated and the cardiac axis was about 50° toward right side. Sp, spine.

Additional file 1: Video.: Visualization of the position of the fetal heart, the right lung and the spine in the case of fetus at 27 gestational weeks diagnosed with left lung agenesis. At the transverse plane of thorax level, the right lung was not detected and the fetal heart moved toward the left and posterior. The cardiac axis was about 120°toward left side. (AVI 3 MB)

Figure 6 shows the autopsy findings in a case of left lung agenesis with cardiac malposition (the fetus died of intrauterine infection at 32 gestational weeks). Figures 7 and 8 shows the postnatal DR and CT images in a case of right lung agenesis. The cardiac position and spatial relationships of the heart and lung are shown clearly.

Figure 6

Autopsy findings of fetal, left lung agenesis complicated with cardiac malposition. The anterior chest wall, the thymus, and the pericardium were removed to demonstrate the shape and location of the heart. The posterior chest wall in the left side was also removed to confirm any anomalies behind the heart. The fetal heart occupied almost the whole hemithorax at the left side with the cardiac apex rotated toward the left and posterior. The right lung was normal and the left lung not seen. AAO, ascending aorta; PA, pulmonary artery; RA, right atrium; SVC, superior vena cava; T, trachea.

Figure 7

Digital radiographs of the chest showing an opaque, right hemithorax with mediastional shift to the left in a neonate that was diagnosed with right lung agenesis at 28 gestational weeks.

Figure 8

Computed tomography of the same neonate in Figure 7 showing right lung agenesis.

Discussion

The specificity and sensitivity of diagnosis by fetal echocardiography has improved greatly in the last twenty years due to the advances in technology and increased experience of the prenatal sonographers [6, 7] and most fetal congenital heart diseases could be diagnosed correctly by experienced examiners. However, fetal cardiac malposition remains a great challenge for most sonographers performing routine prenatal ultrasound due to constant movement of the fetuses. Many screening sonographers always establish the left/right orientation of the fetus on the basis of the position of internal organs, such as stomach or heart. It is certainly incorrect as the position of internal organs may vary from the normal. More over, anomalies of laterality often affect both stomach and the heart (e.g., situs inversus). Bronshtein et al. (2002) proposed an easy right-hand role to define fetal situs [8]. The Cordes technique has also been reported to determine fetal right/left axis using easily identified anatomic landmarks [9, 10]. These techniques are certainly of great value in evaluating fetal situs and only require following some simple rules, though the examiner may be unclear as to why and how the rules work. In our report, we did not propose a novel technique but we did present a systematic way to identify the fetal left and right sides, according to the fetal head position and posture, by merely acquiring long axis and transverse views of the fetus. In the present study, the time requirement for determination of fetal heart position was about 3–5 s for an experienced sonographer. The minimal time required to obtain results is another benefit of our method.

Unilateral lung agenesis, an extremely rare anomaly in which one of the lungs and its associated bronchus and vessels are absent, results due to the failure of origin of lung bud from tracheo-bronchial tree. The lack of fullness of the chest, the crowding of ribs, and the displacement of the mediastinum, usually toward the affected side, is often found in these patients [11]. This can be easily diagnosed after birth by X-ray and CT though prenatal diagnosis remains difficult [12].

Fetal cardiomediastinal shift is generally caused by extra-cardiac situations such as congenital diaphragmatic hernia, cystic lung malformations, and unilateral lung agenesis, etc. [13, 14]. The fetal heart can potentially move to any position in thorax under these circumstances. Cardiomediastinal shift may often be the first clue suggesting the possibility of unilateral lung agenesis. Since the fetal heart, the left lung and the right lung can be detected in the transverse plane at the thorax level, the possibility of unilateral lung agenesis should be suspected in the case of invisible lung tissue in left or right hemithorax combined with cardiac shifting to the ipsilateral thorax [15, 16]. However, this condition is difficult to diagnose for most screening sonographers as the large sized thymus in the fetus may be mistaken for lung tissue.

The MPA, as well as the LPA and RPA can routinely be detected clearly by CDE in second trimester screening examinations. A fundamental aspect of the diagnosis is the inability to detect the pulmonary artery bifurcation and the LPA or RPA. In our reports, the LPA was not visible in all cases of left lung agenesis while the RPA remained invisible in all cases of right lung agenesis. Previous studies have reported that the ipsilateral pulmonary veins were also invisible in the case of unilateral lung agenesis [14]. Nonetheless, in the current study it appears that the invisibility of the ipsilateral pulmonary artery played a more important role in the diagnosis of unilateral lung agenesis since the larger, higher-velocity pulmonary artery can be detected more easily than the smaller, lower-velocity pulmonary veins.

Lung agenesis is an extremely rare malformation and has mostly been reported in case reports or literature reviews. We reported 18 cases in our report, both the left and right lung agenesis, all with prenatal and postnatal clinical data. The relatively large number of this rare case, together with the prenatal and postnatal data, is a benefit of our research. Differed from previous reports, we also evaluated cardiac axis deviation in each of the 18 cases, which is another highlight of our study. The cardiac axis was rotated in all cases in our report with the cardiac apex rotated rightward or leftward at various angles depending on whether the case was right or left lung agenesis. This could be considered a useful indirect sign of the anomaly since the cardiac axis deviation can be visualized easily.

Previous studies have demonstrated that lung agenesis is frequently associated with a constellation of other anomalies, particularly cardiovascular malformations. According to the literature, associated cardiac anomalies with unilateral lung agenesis varied greatly. In the review by Maltz and Nadas (1968), cardiac and vascular defects were noted in 23% of the 156 reported patients [17]. A more recent review [18] by Meller et al. (2012) suggested that left lung agenesis was more frequently isolated than right lung agenesis. They found that only 1 in 6 cases of left lung agenesis had a cardiovascular anomaly, whereas 19 of 25 cases with right-sided presented with a cardiovascular anomaly, the most common of which was scimitar syndrome (15 cases). They also suggested a better outcome for those with left lung compared to those with right lung agenesis. A postnatal study [19] by Chou et al. (2007) suggested that cardiovascular disorders were quite common (11 in 14 cases) especially in cases of right lung agenesis (9 in 10 cases), though some complex cardiac malformations were associated with left lung agenesis. The associated intracardiac defects involved ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect, persistent left superior vena cava, and some complex cyanotic heart diseases (double outlet right ventricle, atrioventricular septal defect, and pulmonary stenosis). In our report, no scimitar syndrome was found in the associated malformations and the proportion and nature of associated cardiac malformations of unilateral lung agenesis is not fully consistent with previous reports. This may be due to the very small number of cases involving this rare malformation.

The prognosis of the patients with unilateral lung agenesis has improved dramatically in the past decade due to the advances in prenatal diagnosis and neonatal care [20]–[22]. Correct prenatal diagnosis will not only offer parents a better understanding of the congenital abnormality through enhanced prenatal counseling, but will also provide a large amount of information for neonatal physicians that could reduce the mortality and potentially improve the prognosis.

Conclusion

The current study introduces a systematic approach for the diagnosis and characterization of fetal unilateral lung agenesis complicated with cardiac malposition. This approach may be helpful to better understanding the anomaly in anatomy and facilitate the examination for and diagnosis of this rare malformation.

Consent

Written informed consent for publication of clinical details, clinical images and videos was obtained from the parents.