Pediatric primary lung adenocarcinoma in the absence of congenital pulmonary airway malformation

Primary lung adenocarcinoma is a rare entity in the pediatric population, especially in the absence of an underlying congenital pulmonary airway malformation. Primary lung malignancies in pediatric patients are rare and constitute 0.2 % of all childhood malignancies. EGFR mutations and congenital airway malformations have been identified as etiological factors in the development of precancerous lesions that eventually progress to malignancy. The availability of genome sequencing and advanced imaging has made it possible to associate primary lung adenocarcinoma with mutations and structural malformations. Early diagnosis with the help of these techniques may result in surgical resection during early stages of the disease and possibly provide definitive treatment. Development of lung adenocarcinoma in pediatric patients in the absence of the above factors has been recorded anecdotally. It is possible that these patients may harbor a yet unknown set of mutations and recording this cases and preserving their tissues is of vital importance in the detection of these yet unknown etiologies.