PhD defence S.M. (Sergei) Hermelijn

Dissertation in short:

This thesis has outlined the large variation and lack of consensus in the definitions, diagnosis and management of congenital lung abnormalities. We believe that using a structured approach and reporting uniform terms will be the first step for clarifying the controversy surrounding these lesions. Uniform approaches will facilitate collaboration and make comparison between studies more feasible. This is why we propose the use of structured reports with uniform terms to describe congenital lung abnormalities on prenatal ultrasound, postnatal CT-scan, and pathology. International collaboration between centers will increase numbers and potentially lead to a consensus on definitions, diagnosis, follow-up and management. Overall a continued collaboration between centers is needed to perform studies on the optimal diagnostic method and management of patients with a congenital lung abnormality. This will lead to a tailor-made approach in treating patients according to the principles of personalized medicine.