An Important Discovery in Fetal Intervention

A breakthrough discovery in fetal intervention

Fetal lung resections for hydropic (CCAM or CPAM): Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation. 

CCAM-excess proliferation or terminal bronchioles.
Steroid may accelerate maturation. Moms had maternal steroids prior to having open fetal surgery but decided not to. Steroids drive lung maturation and CCAM (immature lung tissue that is rapidly proliferation). Unfortunately, there was no way to prove it, and there was no good animal models for this disease so there was only human data. 

Today, very few lung masses undergo resection in utero. Minimally invasive techniques can be very successful.