Overview
Fetal lung interstitial tumor (FLIT) is an extremely rare benign lung tumor that develops in babies before or shortly after birth. It is a type of congenital lung lesion, meaning it forms during fetal development. FLIT was first described in 2010 and is classified as a distinct entity among pediatric lung tumors. The tumor arises from the tissue between the air sacs (interstitium) of the lung and is made up of immature lung cells that resemble fetal lung tissue at a certain stage of development. Babies with FLIT may present with breathing difficulties at birth or shortly after, and the tumor is sometimes detected on prenatal ultrasound as a mass in the chest. In some cases, the tumor can cause the affected part of the lung to become enlarged. The mass may compress surrounding lung tissue and affect normal breathing. The primary treatment for FLIT is surgical removal of the affected portion of the lung (lobectomy or wedge resection). The prognosis after complete surgical removal is generally excellent, and the tumor is considered benign with no known tendency to spread to other parts of the body or recur after complete removal. Because this tumor is so rare, with only a small number of cases reported in the medical literature, knowledge about it continues to evolve as more cases are identified and studied.
Also known as:
Key symptoms:
Breathing difficulty at birth or shortly afterRapid breathingLow oxygen levelsA mass or lump seen on chest imagingEnlarged area of the lungRespiratory distress in the newborn periodPrenatal detection of a chest mass on ultrasoundDifficulty feeding due to breathing problems
Sporadic
Usually appears on its own, not inherited from a parent
Neonatal
Begins at or shortly after birth (first 4 weeks)
Treatments
No FDA-approved treatments are currently listed for Fetal lung interstitial tumor.
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Specialists
View all specialists →No specialists are currently listed for Fetal lung interstitial tumor.
Treatment Centers
8 centersBaylor College of Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🏥 NORDStanford Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Stanford Medicine
📍 Stanford, CA
🔬 UDNNIH Clinical Center Undiagnosed Diseases Program ↗
National Institutes of Health
📍 Bethesda, MD
🔬 UDNUCLA UDN Clinical Site ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
🔬 UDNBaylor College of Medicine UDN Clinical Site ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🔬 UDNHarvard/MGH UDN Clinical Site ↗
Massachusetts General Hospital
📍 Boston, MA
🏥 NORDMayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine ↗
Mayo Clinic
📍 Rochester, MN
👤 Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine
🏥 NORDUCLA Rare Disease Day Program ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
Travel Grants
No travel grants are currently matched to Fetal lung interstitial tumor.
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Start the conversation →Latest news about Fetal lung interstitial tumor
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Questions for your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment
- Q1.What part of my baby's lung is affected, and how much tissue needs to be removed?,What are the risks of the surgery, and what is the expected recovery time?,Will my baby need any breathing support before or after surgery?,How will losing part of the lung affect my child's long-term breathing and physical activity?,How often will my child need follow-up imaging after surgery?,Is there any chance this tumor could come back or be related to other conditions?,Are there any signs or symptoms I should watch for at home after discharge?
Common questions about Fetal lung interstitial tumor
What is Fetal lung interstitial tumor?
Fetal lung interstitial tumor (FLIT) is an extremely rare benign lung tumor that develops in babies before or shortly after birth. It is a type of congenital lung lesion, meaning it forms during fetal development. FLIT was first described in 2010 and is classified as a distinct entity among pediatric lung tumors. The tumor arises from the tissue between the air sacs (interstitium) of the lung and is made up of immature lung cells that resemble fetal lung tissue at a certain stage of development. Babies with FLIT may present with breathing difficulties at birth or shortly after, and the tumor
How is Fetal lung interstitial tumor inherited?
Fetal lung interstitial tumor follows a sporadic inheritance pattern. Genetic counseling can help families understand recurrence risk and testing options.
At what age does Fetal lung interstitial tumor typically begin?
Typical onset of Fetal lung interstitial tumor is neonatal. Age of onset can vary across affected individuals.