Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation – dangers of misdiagnosis: a case report

BACKGROUND: Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation is a rare pulmonary malformation, but is the most common lung malformation observed in children. In developing countries, such as Morocco, prenatal diagnosis is missing. Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation may occur after birth in the presence of complications and needs a computed tomography scan for confirmation. However, our lack of awareness of this malformation has been responsible for a late and wrong diagnosis along with therapeutic errors. We report the first case in Morocco where diagnosis is confirmed by histology after death. CASE PRESENTATION: A 10-month-old Arab boy was prescribed various antibiotics (including anti-staphylococcal) and endured repeated chest drainages, leading to his death just after radiological diagnosis and instant surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The goal of this case report is to firmly express the need for both pediatricians and radiologists to enlarge diagnosis investigations, especially of congenital or constitutional entities in children, as soon as recurrence of respiratory distress and pulmonary infections are manifested. We also emphasize this important entity because of its frequency, to avoid the eventual therapeutic errors.