Congenital Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation - SSM Cardinal ...

Congenital Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation
What is Congenital Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation
(CCAM)
A CCAM is a cystic mass which forms in the lung tissue of a fetus. The
mass is usually located in one lung, and it does not function as normal lung
tissue. The cause of a CCAM is unknown, and it is not related to anything
the mother did or did not do during the pregnancy. No cases of recurrence
in a sibling have been reported. We suspect that a genetic problem causes
a CCAM, as if a switch has made that part of the lung stay immature. As a
result, it grows faster than normal and it forms abnormal air spaces which
do not function like normal lung.
A Congenital Cystic
Adenomatoid Malformation (CCAM)
How is CCAM diagnosed
CCAM’s are detected during a routine prenatal ultrasound. The cyst appears
as a bright mass in the area of the chest where only lung tissue should be
seen. The size and location of the cystic mass may cause the heart to shift to
the opposite side of the chest or push downward on the baby’s diaphragm.
The diagnosis can be confirmed with a fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exam which will
also document the size and location of the CCAM. Another test that may be recommended is a fetal
echocardiogram. This is an ultrasound of the heart performed by a pediatric cardiologist. This test is
recommended to rule out structural heart defects and assess heart function.
How does CCAM affect my baby
The vast majority of babies do well and have normal development and lung function. During the pregnancy,
the cyst often grows with the fetus and appears quite large, but usually the growth starts to slow down in
the second trimester. Since the fetus and the remaining normal lung continue to grow rapidly, the CCAM
appears to shrink over the pregnancy. Sometimes, the CCAM becomes very small and even undetectable
before birth by ultrasound. It is always there, but studies will have to be done after birth to find the CCAM.
In all these cases, the outlook for a normal life is excellent.
In a small number of fetuses, the CCAM may grow so rapidly so as to become life-threatening before birth.
This usually happens between 18 and 26 weeks gestation. The large size of the CCAM causes compression
of the heart and eventual heart failure. Compression of the lungs can also cause the lungs to be too small for
survival. In these cases, either fetal surgery or early delivery needs to be performed depending on how far
the pregnancy has progressed.
How is CCAM managed during pregnancy
During the initial ultrasound, we will measure the volume of the CCAM relative to the size of the fetus. This
ratio is called the CCAM volume ratio, or CVR. For every fetus with a CCAM, we start by measuring the CVR
every week. By comparing the CVR measurements, we can determine how fast the CCAM is growing and
whether it will become life-threatening. If the CVR remains small (less than 1.0) after 28 weeks, then the
ultrasound examinations can be performed every three to four weeks till delivery.
If the CCAM pushes the heart out of the normal position, then a second MRI may be
performed at 34 weeks of pregnancy. The lung volume will be calculated and the
information will be used to determine whether your baby should be delivered at SSM
Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center, where advanced breathing machines are
available.
Babies with very large, rapidly growing CCAM’s will have a high CVR, usually above
1.0. In this setting, we follow your baby very closely to determine if the heart function
begins to decline. Usually, ultrasound exams need to be performed twice a week and
repeated echocardiograms may also be performed.
StLouisFetalCare.com
Phone • 314.268.4037
Toll-Free • 877.SSM.FETL
(877.776.3385)
fetalcare@ssmhc.com
/fetaldocs
©2012 St. Louis Fetal Care Institute

Congenital Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation
If signs of heart failure develop, or the CVR rises to 1.6 or higher, then fetal intervention may be required.
Oftentimes, prenatal steroids are the first step in the intervention. If the steroids do not stop the growth of
the CCAM, then open fetal surgery to remove the mass can be a life saving option for the baby. If the CCAM
has a dominant cyst of fluid then a needle can be used to drain the fluid and relieve the compression on the
heart. When the CCAM is a solid mass, then open fetal surgery is necessary to remove the mass. If your
baby has reached 32 weeks in pregnancy, then early delivery may be used instead of fetal surgery.
How is CCAM treated after delivery
If fetal intervention is not necessary the infant will be evaluated and treated after delivery. Babies with a
relatively small CCAM can be born without any apparent complications. These babies typically go home and
are followed as an outpatient in 2 to 4 weeks. The pediatric surgeons manage what to do with the CCAM.
Often they recommend surgical removal to prevent future infection and possible malignancy. This is done
though an operation in the chest and the part or lobe of the lung that contains the CCAM is removed.
Babies with a moderately large CCAM’s may have some difficulty breathing after birth. Usually, these babies
breathe very quickly and sometimes they require oxygen. Eating is difficult when breathing fast. These
babies need to be in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for stabilization and surgery is performed to
remove the CCAM and to allow for the remaining normal lung to function optimally. The baby will remain in
the NICU until breathing and eating improve.
Rarely, a CCAM is so large that we anticipate the baby will have problems breathing right at birth. We try to
predict this based on the size of the CCAM and lungs by MRI, and the degree that heart has been pushed out
of the way. To avoid a crisis in the baby’s breathing at birth, we recommend that a special delivery method
be used. When a baby is delivered using an EXIT procedure, the placenta and umbilical cord are maintained
while we evaluate the baby’s lung function. If the baby breathes well, then the baby can be completely
delivered and we can plan for removal of the CCAM later. If the baby’s breathing is compromised, then the
CCAM needs to be removed immediately. The chest operation is performed while the mother’s placenta
supports the baby. When the operation is finished, the cord is cut and the baby can breathe better without
the compression of the CCAM.
What will happen after surgery
The post-operative course varies depending on when the surgery is done, the size of the CCAM, and how
much lung was removed. If the CCAM is removed during the neonatal period, then commonly a breathing
tube and intravenous line is needed. The baby may also have a tube in the chest to drain any fluid and help
expand the lung into the chest space. The baby will not be able to eat until his or her condition has stabilized
but nourishment will be given through the intravenous fluids.
The baby will go home when he or she can breathe sufficiently and eat enough to maintain and gain weight.
The average stay for the newborn can range from 2-3 days for small CCAM’s to 4-8 weeks for much larger
ones. The long-term outcome for infants who have the cyst removed is excellent. These children usually
have no limitations on their activities and have no increased risk for respiratory complications.
StLouisFetalCare.com
Phone • 314.268.4037
Toll-Free • 877.SSM.FETL
(877.776.3385)
fetalcare@ssmhc.com
/fetaldocs
©2012 St. Louis Fetal Care Institute