Congenital Lung Malformation Myths vs Facts

When your baby is diagnosed with a congenital lung malformation, you'll almost certainly turn to the internet for answers — and unfortunately, not everything you'll find is accurate. Outdated information, misleading forum posts, and well-meaning but incorrect advice from friends and family can add to the fear and confusion of an already overwhelming time. This series separates common myths from medical facts for parents of babies diagnosed with CPAM, BPS, CLE, and other CLMs. Every article is carefully reviewed by pediatric surgeons to make sure the information you're reading is current, accurate, and trustworthy

Myth # 1: “I did something to cause this”
Fact: No, you didn’t.

That’s not how CLMs work. They are random abnormalities. They are not caused by anything a mother did or didn’t do during the pregnancy. You can read about this in more detail here.

Myth # 2: “CLMs are getting more common”
Fact: Not necessarily.

It’s very unlikely that CLMs are actually getting more common. Much more likely is that we’re just diagnosing them better: earlier and more often with modern ultrasound technology. Read more here.

Myth # 3: “Most CLM babies can’t breathe at birth”
Fact: Actually, it’s the opposite.

Most babies—it’s thought up to 90%!—with a CLM can breathe without any support at birth. That said, babies with large lesions that have caused complications during the pregnancy should be watched more closely as they are more at-risk of needing some breathing help at birth. You can learn more here.

Myth # 4: “A clear X-ray means the lesion is gone”
Fact: No! A lung malformation should never be ruled out based on an X-ray.

A normal (or “clear”) chest X-ray does not reliably rule out a congenital lung malformation. X-rays are not sensitive enough to give a clear enough picture of whether a lung malformation is present, or not, and its characteristics. A CT scan is needed to confirm what’s actually happening and to understand the size, location, and blood supply of the lesion. Read more here.

Myth # 5: “My child won’t be able to play sports when they grow up”
Fact: The vast majority of these kids will lead completely normal active lives.

Kids are amazing and, after lung surgery, the remaining healthy lung tissue undergoes compensatory lung growth. Because babies are still growing, the healthy parts of the lung can expand and "fill the space," often resulting in normal or near-normal lung function. Most children who have a lobe removed go on to live completely normal lives, participating in competitive sports and high-intensity activities.

Myth # 6: “A 'shrinking' lesion on prenatal ultrasound means it’s disappearing”
Fact: Almost always no. The abnormal tissue is usually still there.

It can feel like a rollercoaster at every prenatal visit, with the size of the lesion and CVR constantly changing. But, usually, the lesion isn't actually shrinking. Instead, the surrounding healthy lung tissue is now growing and the malformation may become harder to see. While some lesions truly do decrease in size, the underlying abnormal tissue is almost always still there and will need to be confirmed with a CT scan after birth.

Myth #7: “My child's chest will look different after lung surgery at such a young age”
Fact: Probably not.

While open lung surgery can lead to chest wall deformities later in life, minimally invasive lung surgeries—like most lung malformation operations—don’t typically change the chest wall shape or development. Your child will have small cosmetic scars that will fade as they grow up.