Anomalii bronșice la copiii – repere diagnostice imagistice

Abstract

Summary Congenital anomalies of the bronchopulmonary system represent a diverse category of structural defects affecting the tracheobronchial tree, the pulmonary parenchyma, the functional pulmonary vasculature, as well as the neural plexuses involved in their regulation. These malformations encompass a broad spectrum of structural airway abnormalities and account for approximately 5% to 18% of all congenital malformations of the pulmonary system. The overall incidence is estimated at 30–42 cases per 100,000 live births. Such anomalies may impair respiratory function from the earliest moments of life. However, in some cases, they remain clinically silent and are discovered incidentally later in life during investigations performed for unrelated conditions. The severity of these congenital anomalies varies widely, ranging from mild forms with no apparent symptoms to complex and severe structural defects requiring specialized surgical management. Early diagnosis is of paramount importance, as timely therapeutic intervention significantly reduces the risk of serious complications and greatly improves long-term outcomes. Our study included 18 children with congenital bronchopulmonary malformations who were hospitalized in the Pneumology Clinic of the Mother and Child Institute. The diagnosis was confirmed using thoracic imaging techniques. Among the patients, 15 were diagnosed with tracheal bronchus, 2 children had airway stenosis due to vascular compression (associated with cardiovascular malformations), and 1 child presented with a rare form of bronchial tree anomaly — a "bridging" bronchus.