First Trimester Echogenic Lung Lesions: A Diagnostic Challenge and Review of Differential Diagnoses

Foetal echogenic lungs are characterised by the appearance of small bright spots within the foetal lungs observed via antenatal ultrasound, which may indicate underlying developmental abnormalities. The presence of echogenic lungs is a rare sonographic finding identified during the first trimester of pregnancy. In this report, we present the case of a healthy 25-year-old primigravida who was found to have multiple foetal abnormalities in her routine first-trimester scan, following which she was scanned by the foetal medicine team, who confirmed the finding of foetal echogenic lungs along with cystic hygroma and hydrops foetalis. Turner's syndrome was confirmed with successive invasive tests, and the pregnancy was terminated at 14 weeks. Our findings not only contribute to the limited data on this rare sonographic occurrence but also highlight the importance of vigilant foetal monitoring in cases of echogenic lungs, allowing for timely intervention and management strategies. This case strongly supports the need for further research into the implications of echogenic lung findings and their association with chromosomal abnormalities.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Cureus
Published
2025-09-12
DOI
https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.92114
Primary Topic
Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Studies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

First Trimester Echogenic Lung Lesions: A Diagnostic Challenge and Review of Differential Diagnoses

Mónica Gumá, Chameli Subbaraj
Cureus
Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Studies
article

First Trimester Echogenic Lung Lesions: A Diagnostic Challenge and Review of Differential Diagnoses

Mónica Gumá, Chameli Subbaraj
article en

Abstract

Foetal echogenic lungs are characterised by the appearance of small bright spots within the foetal lungs observed via antenatal ultrasound, which may indicate underlying developmental abnormalities. The presence of echogenic lungs is a rare sonographic finding identified during the first trimester of pregnancy. In this report, we present the case of a healthy 25-year-old primigravida who was found to have multiple foetal abnormalities in her routine first-trimester scan, following which she was scanned by the foetal medicine team, who confirmed the finding of foetal echogenic lungs along with cystic hygroma and hydrops foetalis. Turner's syndrome was confirmed with successive invasive tests, and the pregnancy was terminated at 14 weeks. Our findings not only contribute to the limited data on this rare sonographic occurrence but also highlight the importance of vigilant foetal monitoring in cases of echogenic lungs, allowing for timely intervention and management strategies. This case strongly supports the need for further research into the implications of echogenic lung findings and their association with chromosomal abnormalities.

CureusVol. 17(9)
Basildon Hospital (GB)
Openalex Percentile: Top 60%
Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Studies
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.