We support families affected by congenital lung malformations—like CPAM, BPS, CLE—from diagnosis to birth, to surgery and beyond
New CPAM or CLM diagnosis? Feeling alone and overwhelmed?
Connect with a parent who’s been there before or join one of our support groups to meet other families going through the same thing.
We are a parent-led, grassroots project providing:
Education
We provide clear, accurate and up-to-date educational materials on congenital lung malformations, always carefully reviewed and edited by a medical expert.
Peer support
Our Parent Connections program provides 1-on-1, group support and workshops facilitated by trained parent volunteers who have been through this diagnosis.
Resources
Our parent-created practical resources are designed to support you at every stage of a lung malformation journey.
Family stories
We share real life stories from families who have been through a CPAM, BPS or other congenital lung malformation diagnosis and come out the other side.
Latest family stories
1 in 2,500
estimated number of babies born with a CLM
90%
of babies with a CLM will be asymptomatic at birth
CPAM
(congenital pulmonary airway malformation) is the most common CLM
70%
of CLMs are currently diagnosed before birth
One minute Fact Sheet
What is a congenital lung malformation?
A congenital lung malformation (CLM) is a rare condition where part of a baby’s lungs did not develop normally during pregnancy. CLMs are not associated with chromosomal abnormalities and are not caused by anything the mother did or didn’t do during pregnancy. The two most common types of lung malformation are CPAM and BPS.
What is CPAM?
CPAM (congenital pulmonary airway malformation) is an abnormal mass of lung tissue, normally affecting one lung lobe. The CPAM is part of the lungs and connected to the lung’s blood supply.
What is BPS?
Like CPAM, a BPS (bronchopulmonary sequestration) is an abnormal growth of lung tissue, but unlike CPAM, the mass is not connected to the lung’s blood supply. Instead, the BPS is connected to a nearby systemic vessel, normally the aorta.
What is the prognosis for someone born with a congenital lung malformation?
The prognosis is excellent. In the overwhelming majority of cases a lung malformation will not affect a child’s life expectancy or quality of life. In some rarer cases, the lung malformation can present more serious complications during pregnancy or immediately after birth.
What are other types of CLM?
Bronchogenic cysts, congenital lobar emphysema (CLE), and congenital bronchial atresia (CBA) are rarer types of congenital lung malformation. A lung malformation can also show characteristics of more than one type e.g. a mixture of CPAM and BPS. These are called hybrid lesions.
Get involved
Has your family been through a CPAM, BPS or other congenital lung malformation diagnosis? Do you feel ready to share your family’s story? Do you have a few hours a month to support new parents?