What is a CLM?
(In 2 minutes)
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. 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. The BPS is connected instead 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 CPAM or BPS will not affect a child’s life expectancy or quality of life. In some rarer cases, the CPAM or BPS presents more serious complications during the pregnancy or immediately after birth.
What causes CPAM or BPS?
Nobody knows for sure but CPAM or BPS is not caused by anything the mother did, or didn’t do, during pregnancy.
Why not use the term CLM?
CLM—congenital lung malformation or lesion—is being used more and more as these conditions become better studied and more frequently diagnosed. Because most people still use the term CPAM, especially at initial diagnosis, we use it broadly here so parents, family members, and healthcare professionals can find us easily online.
Are there other types of CLM?
Bronchogenic cysts, CLE (congenital lobar emphysema), and bronchial atresia are rarer types of congenital lung malformations. CPAM Parents is working on expanding our resources to cover these conditions too.
How common is CPAM or BPS?
Congenital lung malformations altogether are thought to impact 1 in 2,500 live births.