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Chinese Doctors Shrink Unborn Baby’s Lung Tumour Without Incision
A baby growing inside its mother had an unusual growth in one lung.
The growth became large enough to press on the baby’s heart and lungs, and fluid collected in the baby’s belly.
Doctors used ultrasound to guide a very thin needle through the mother’s belly and into the growth.
The needle used microwaves to heat and destroy some of the abnormal tissue.
The treatment took about two minutes.
Three days later, the growth was smaller and the fluid had gone away.
The baby was born at 37 weeks and was reported to be healthy.
At four months, the baby had no symptoms and had not needed another operation.
Doctors said this is one case, so more research is needed before the treatment can be considered a standard option.
Doctors used microwave ablation to shrink a lung growth in an unborn baby with congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM).
At 22 weeks of pregnancy, the growth measured about 5 cm, compressed the baby’s heart and lungs, and was accompanied by fluid in the abdomen.
Guided by ultrasound, doctors passed a thin needle through the mother’s abdomen and uterus and heated the abnormal tissue for about two minutes.
The growth had shrunk and the abdominal fluid had disappeared three days after treatment.
The baby was delivered by Caesarean section at 37 weeks, was reported healthy, and remained symptom-free at four months; doctors said further research is needed.
- Who
- A medical team from Shenzhen Baoan Women's and Children's Hospital and the Chinese University of Hong Kong treated an unborn baby with CPAM.
- What
- Doctors used ultrasound-guided microwave ablation to shrink the baby's lung growth.
- Where
- The treatment was performed through the mother's abdomen and uterus; the article identifies the medical team’s institutions in Shenzhen and Hong Kong.
- When
- The problem was found when the mother was 22 weeks pregnant; the case was published on August 20. The baby was later delivered at 37 weeks.
- Why
- The growth was compressing the baby's heart and lungs and was accompanied by a dangerous build-up of abdominal fluid.
Potential treatment option
Evidence still limited
Role of microwave ablation
Potential treatment option
The successful outcome suggests microwave ablation could become another option for severe CPAM cases if further research confirms it is safe, effective, and reproducible.
Evidence still limited
Doctors cautioned that one case cannot establish safety or effectiveness, and more studies are needed before it can be considered standard treatment.
Key facts
- Condition
- Congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM)
- Growth size
- About 5 cm when detected
- Gestational age at detection
- 22 weeks
- Ablation time
- About two minutes
- Early response
- Three days later, the growth had shrunk significantly and the abdominal fluid had disappeared
- Delivery
- Caesarean section at 37 weeks; birth weight about 2.9 kg
- Follow-up
- At four months, the baby was symptom-free and had not needed further surgery
- Evidence caveat
- Doctors said a single case cannot establish the procedure's safety or effectiveness
Sources
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