The embryologic basis of tracheobroncho-pulmonary maldevelopment.

An integrated analysis of 15 patients with tracheobronchial abnormalities, bronchogenic cysts and pulmonary sequestration demonstrates that these diverse clinical conditions are expressions of basic embryologic maldevelopment patterns. The clinical conditions described are indicative of differences in degree of the embryologic disorder. In addition to the clinico-pathologic changes affecting the tracheobroncho-pulmonary components of the respiratory system, the importance of aberrant pulmonary arterial blood vessels is described and the diagnostic importance of ancillary investigations is emphasized.