Congenital Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation Current News & Research

Research in Fetal Therapy

The UCSF Fetal Treatment Center has been on the forefront of fetal treatment research since it's inception. The first open fetal surgery in the world was performed at UCSF over 2 decades ago and we continue to dedicate ourselves to research and innovation.

Fetal Treatment Center in the News

CCAM Prenatal Steroid Clinical Trial

The UCSF Fetal Treatment Center, together with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Cincinnati, are embarking on a trial to determine whether steroids might be effective in preventing fetuses with large microcystic CCAM's from developing hydrops fetalis. This important study will help answer the question of whether administration of steroids to the mother, a benign treatment, is helpful to fetuses with large CCAM's whose previous prognosis was poor, and for whom the only previous treatment option was open maternal-fetal surgery.

You may be eligible to be considered for this clinical trial. For more information please visit Investigation of Prenatal Steroids for Treatment of Prenatally Diagnosed CCAMs.

Current CCAM Research

• Effect of tracheal occlusion on fetal lung growth and development
• Techniques of temporary tracheal occlusion
• Development of small animal models
• Effect of tracheal occlusion on surfactant production
• Optimal timing and duration of tracheal occlusion
• Prognostic indicators for fetal CDH:  the lung-head ratio (LHR)
• Investigation of Prenatal Steroids for Treatment of Prenatally Diagnosed CCAMs (see below)

• Homeobox Profiles of Fetal and Childhood Masses and Tumors, including Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation of the Lung, Neuroblastoma, Wilms’ Tumor, and Hepatoblastoma - Lee, Hanmin

Current General Fetal Treatment Research

• Preterm Labor Factors in Patients Undergoing Fetal Surgery - Lee, Hanmin

  Study analyzing fetal surgery and preterm labor.

• Maternal Outcomes of Fetal Surgery - Lee, Hanmin

  Study analyzing the maternal risks of fetal surgical interventions.

  Publications:

  Golombeck K, Ball RH, Lee H, Farrell JA, Farmer DL, Jacobs VR, Rosen MA, Filly RA, Harrison MR. Maternal morbidity after maternal-fetal surgery. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2006 Mar;194(3):834-9.

• Adhesive and Tensile Properties of Amniotic Membranes - Harrison, Michael

  Examination of a novel preventive “presealant” to protect amniotic membranes during fetal surgery.

  Publications:

  Cortes RA, Wagner AJ, Lee H, Clifton MS, Grethel E, Yang SH, Ball R, Harrison MR. Pre-emptive placement of a presealant for amniotic access. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2005 Sep;193(3 Pt 2):1197-203

• Evaluation of Thoracoscopic and Laparoscopic Techniques for Pediatric and Fetal Congenital Defects - Lee, Hanmin

  Study evaluting recent advances in fetal treatment.

  Publications:

  Cortes RA, Farmer DL. Recent advances in fetal surgery. Semin Perinatol. 2004 Jun;28(3):199-211.

  Ball RH. Invasive fetal testing. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol. 2004 Apr;16(2):159-62