Congenital Rare Abnormal Shapes of Lungs in Relation to Abnormal Lobes and Fissures and Its Clinical Implications

BACKGROUND: Detailed anatomical knowledge of congenital abnormalities of the lungs is essential for proper evaluation and treatment of respiratory diseases, identification of bronchopulmonary segments during lobectomies and surgical resection, and identification and interpretation of their variable radiological imaging.

AIM: Accordingly, the aim of this study was designed to evaluate the prevalence of congenital abnormal shapes of lungs in relation to abnormal lobes and fissures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was carried out on 270 isolated lung specimens (right lungs - 135 and left lungs - 135) from 135 formalin-embalmed middle-aged human cadavers irrespective of gender.

RESULTS: Out of 270 lung specimens following congenital abnormalities were reported - (1) three lungs (1.1%) had uunusual different abnormal shapes, such as typical snail shell-shaped right lung with single abnormal circular fissure, bearded axe-shaped left lung with huge cardiac notch, and single-lobed classical pointed hat-shaped right lung, (2) one right lung (0.37%) and 9 left lungs (6.67%) showed complete absence of fissures, (3) among 9 single-lobed left lungs, one had split apex separated by a left subclavian groove with the absence of lingula and cardiac notch, (4) cardiac notch and ligula were noted absently in 3 left lungs (2.36%), and (5) one right lung (0.37%) showed five lobes with complete one oblique and three incomplete horizontal fissures.

CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, such abnormalities of the lungs have not been cited in the recent medical literature. Awareness of these abnormalities is necessary to avoid complications during various radiodiagnostic procedures or cardiothoracic surgeries.