Intralobar pulmonary sequestration. A report of 12 cases.

Intralobar pulmonary sequestration signifies an abnormal and non-aerated mass in the lung, supplied by a systemic artery. Twelve cases are submitted, 10 treated by surgery and two conservatively. There was a male preponderance 11:1, and half the patients were over 25 years. In 66% the abnormality was situated basally on the left side A definite diagnosis can be made only by arteriography, visualizing the number, site, and size of the anomalous vessel(s). Clinically, the symptoms may range from no symptoms at all (four of the present patients) to recurrent pneumonia, cough, and haemoptysis (five of the present patients). In two patients the excised tissue showed epithelial proliferations, tumourlets and slight epithelial dysplasia, but no manifest malignancy. Surgical resection is the only curative treatment for intrapulmonary sequestration. In "silent" cases it is felt justified to apply conservative treatment should primary surgery be contra-indicated.