Neonatal Lung Disease Differential Diagnosis

The (almost) Daily Diff today is Neonatal lung disease, which contains several entities unique to that age group, as well as many of the diagnoses seen in older children and adults. While a broad differential is listed below, the particular findings of any given case can narrow the differential significantly. Follow up imaging can also help clarify the situation. Unfortunately, I am not aware of an easy mnemonic to help recall these processes. Brute force memory shall have to suffice.

	Disease	Notes
RDS	Respiratory distress syndrome	preterm ground glass low lung volumes
TTN	Transient tachypnea of the newborn	often associated with C-section resolves in 24-48h
MAS	Meconium aspiration syndrome	patchy airspace disease bilaterally increased lung volumes associated with pneumothorax
PNA	Neonatal pneumonia	secondary to group B strep presents with consolidation (round pneumonia - seen in children due to lack of pores of Kohn / canals of Lambert)
PIE	Pulmonary interstitial emphysema	ventilated child lucencies to edge of film associated with pneumothorax
CDH	Congenital diaphragmatic hernia	gas crossing diaphragm usually presents in postpartum period high mortality rate usually posterior (Bochdalek hernia)
BPFM	Bronchopulmonary foregut malformation	A term that encompasses (see next rows): congenital pulmonary airways malformation pulmonary sequestration bronchogenic cyst neuroenteric cyst enteric cyst
CPAM	Congenital pulmonary airway malformation	can fill in and appear consolidative
PS	Pulmonary sequestration	systemic blood supply (aorta) may be cystic intralobar (75%) vs extralobar (has its own pleura - 25%)
BC	Bronchogenic cyst	normal lung tissue without connection to bronchial tree contains fluid (water), variable amounts of proteinaceous material, blood products, and calcium oxalate most common location: mediastinum
NEC	Neurenteric cyst	associated with vertebral anomalies
EC	Enteric cyst	aka duplication cyst