The fetal lung 2: pulmonary hypoplasia.

This review describes the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypoplasia and highlights its clinical, radiological and pathologic features, with emphasis on oligohydramnios‐related pulmonary hypoplasia. Since pulmonary hypoplasia may lead to severe respiratory distress immediately after birth and even to neonatal death, an accurate and patient‐friendly prenatal test for early detection and distinction between lethal and non‐lethal pulmonary hypoplasia is still highly desirable. An extended overview of the proposed methods for the prenatal prediction of pulmonary hypoplasia is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]