Citation

D'Hondt D, Van Hoyweghen A, Broeckx G, Pauwels P. Am. J. Forensic Med. Pathol. 2021; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/PAF.0000000000000676

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM), previously known as congenital cystic airway malformation, is a developmental disorder of the lower respiratory tract. It is subdivided into 5 types based on clinical and pathologic features. Type 3, an adenomatoid type of CPAM, is the second rarest form of CPAM, occurring in approximately 5% of all CPAM cases. This article reports an autopsy of a nearly 11-week-old male infant, found unresponsive in bed with his mother. She had fallen asleep after breastfeeding a few hours prior. Although the autopsy and additional technical examinations did not uncover the exact cause of death, CPAM type 3 was eventually identified on histological examination. Taking into account the context of this case, in which accidental asphyxia/neglect could not be ruled out, it is thought that the presence of CPAM might have contributed to the demise of the infant. As CPAM is a rare congenital disorder, the diagnosis could easily be missed. Therefore, this article aims to raise awareness of this diagnosis and points out the clinical and pathologic features of this disorder.

Language: en