Aneurysms of the pulmonary arteries

Bilateral pulmonary artery aneurysms

Pulmonary artery aneurysms are rare. The estimated incidence is 1 in 14,000 in autopsies. Bilateral main pulmonary artery aneurysms have not been previously reported in the literature. A 36-year-old woman who has been diagnosed as having an ostium secundum defect with severe pulmonary hypertension was found dead. Autopsy revealed an emaciated body. The heart was enlarged. Right atrium and ventricle were dilated. There were bilateral unruptured main pulmonary artery aneurisms. Atheromatous plaques of the pulmonary artery were seen. There was no thrombosis. Histology confirmed the pulmonary artery aneurysm and pulmonary atheroma. The cause of death was concluded as right heart failure due to bilateral main pulmonary artery aneurisms caused by an ostium secundum defect of the heart.

Pulmonary Vascular Disease

The pulmonary vasculature is an anatomic compartment that is frequently overlooked in the histologic review of lung biopsy samples, other than those obtained specifically to assess pulmonary vascular disease.1 Though often of a nonspecific nature, the histologic pattern of vascular remodeling may at times suggest its underlying pathogenesis and provide clues to the cause of pulmonary hypertension.2 Disproportionately severe vascular pathology may further indicate alternate disease processes, such as congestive heart failure or thromboemboli, contributing to the patient’s overall respiratory condition.

Idiopathic Pulmonary Trunk Aneurysm Causing Airway Obstruction in an Infant

We report a case of idiopathic pulmonary trunk aneurysm in an infant, in which the main clinical picture was airway obstruction. Aneurysmorraphy was the chosen surgical approach and showed to be successful on 13 months follow-up.

Main pulmonary artery aneurysm

Pulmonary artery aneurysm is a rare lesion of the thoracic cavity. Different etiologies have been reviewed, but idiopathic lesions without other symptoms are seldom reported. Usually, surgical interventions are suggested, but the long-term outcomes are not well established. Here, we report a 24-year-old man with main pulmonary artery aneurysm who successfully underwent aneurysmectomy and polytetrafluoroethylene vascular graft replacement. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the following image study revealed normal size of the great vessels.

Idiopathic asymptomatic main pulmonary artery aneurysm: surgery or conservative management? A case report

Idiopathic main pulmonary artery aneurysm is a very rare entity and there are no clear guidelines for optimal treatment. Operative treatment is recommended for patients with a risk of rupture, which is not well defined. We present an unusual case of a 53-year-old woman with an idiopathic main pulmonary artery aneurysm. Our case is asymptomatic, without a causative cardiac lesion and/or pulmonary hypertension; therefore, we did not operate on our patient and she was stable at 22-month follow-up.

Mycotic pulmonary artery aneurysm as a late complication of infective endocarditis after pacemaker implantation

A 49-year-old-woman who had had a pacemaker implanted 15 years earlier became acutely ill with a continuous high fever and general fatigue. A pulmonary artery aneurysm had been rapidly developing and had arrived at the acute phase within 2 weeks. After removal of the pacemaker and with antibiotic therapy the aneurysm gradually decreased in size and has been without rupture for 3 years. Conservative treatment seemed to be sufficient for the management of a mycotic aneurysm in this case.

Mycotic pulmonary artery aneurysm diagnosed 18 years after bacterial endocarditis

A 21-year-old woman with a history of bacterial endocarditis and ventricular septum defect repair was referred for evaluation of a mass in the right mid-lung field. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan of the chest showed an aneurysm of the right lateral pulmonary artery. The aneurysm was considered to be mycotic in origin. The aneurysm was treated by coil embolization using 19 detachable coils measuring 425 cm in overall length.

Pulmonary Artery Aneurysms and Pseudoaneurysms in Adults: Findings at CT and Radiography

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this pictorial essay is to illustrate the radiologic manifestations of pulmonary artery aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms with emphasis on the findings on contrast-enhanced CT.

CONCLUSION

Pulmonary artery aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms are uncommon. Most are caused by trauma, often iatrogenic, infection, and Behçet's syndrome. Less common causes include pulmonary hypertension, congenital heart disease, neoplasms, and connective tissue disease. Recognition of pulmonary artery aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms is important because of the high morbidity and mortality rates of rupture.

Proximal pulmonary artery aneurysms in patients with pulmonary artery hypertension: complicated cases

Cases with proximal pulmonary artery aneurysm (PAA) sometimes have severe complications. We report 4 cases of proximal PAA complicated by pulmonary hypertension. Three cases had proximal PAA and one had both proximal and peripheral PAA. Complications associated with proximal PAA are compression of the bronchus, dissection and/or rupture of the pulmonary artery, and thrombus of the pulmonary artery. The available medical treatments have limitations. Two of our patients with proximal PAA are awaiting lung transplantation.

Congenital and acquired pulmonary artery anomalies in the adult: radiologic overview

Various congenital and acquired anomalies may affect the pulmonary arteries in adult patients. Congenital anomalies (proximal interruption, anomalous origin of the left pulmonary artery [pulmonary artery sling], and idiopathic dilatation of the pulmonary trunk) are usually found incidentally at chest radiography or computed tomography (CT). Acquired anomalies include diffuse or focal enlargement of the arteries because of pulmonary hypertension, aneurysm, and intravascular pulmonary metastasis; decreased arterial diameter because of bronchial carcinoma, mediastinal fibrosis, and Takayasu arteritis; and intraluminal filling defects due to pulmonary thromboembolism and pulmonary artery sarcoma. An awareness of the radiologic manifestations of the disease entities and potential pulmonary artery complications secondary to infection or vasculitis may enable an early diagnosis. CT angiography is becoming the standard method for evaluating patients in whom the presence of pulmonary embolism is suspected. CT assessment of the extent of heart effects in patients with pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary embolism is particularly important because such effects largely determine the prognosis.

Pulmonary mucormycosis: two of a kind

Mucormycosis is an uncommon infection caused by fungi of the class Zygomycetes, suborder Mucorales. It occurs predominantly in the immunodeficient host, the most common risk factor being diabetes mellitus. Pulmonary mucormycosis is a disease that is localized in the lungs or mediastinum. It usually presents in a fulminant manner, although a chronic presentation can also occur. We describe two cases of pulmonary mucormycosis in patients with diabetes mellitus, one with an acute and the other with a chronic presentation. A high level of clinical suspicion, combined surgical and medical therapy, and control of patient's underlying immunosuppression are the key to a successful outcome.

Mycotic Pulmonary Artery Pseudoaneurysm

We report a rare case of a mycotic pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm that was detected on CT examination. The pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm appeared as a rapidly growing enhancing mass without a draining vein and with evidence of surrounding acute hemorrhage on CT.

[Exercise-induced dyspnea and hilar enlargement]

We report the case of a 46-year-old man with an uneventful history who was hospitalized for suspected pulmonary embolism. The chest x-ray did not reveal any parenchymatous anomaly but disclosed pseudo-tumoral enlargement of the pulmonary arteries. There was no right ventricular overload at cardiac echography and the pulmonary arterial pressure was normal. Helicoidal angioscan demonstrated aneurismal dilatation of the both pulmonary arteries, complicated by a thrombus on the right. Outcome was favorable with anticoagulation. After ruling out acquired aneurysm, the diagnosis retained was idiopathic aneurysm of the pulmonary arteries.

Late recurrence of cardiac sarcoma presenting as giant pulmonary artery aneurysm

We report the case of a 46-year-old woman who had undergone cardiac transplantation for a malignant, right ventricular sarcoma. Five years later, she experienced pulmonary hypertension and a pulmonary artery aneurysm. Medical management of the pulmonary hypertension being unsuccessful, she underwent surgical exploration of the pulmonary artery aneurysm and bilateral pulmonary endarterectomy. Intra-operative findings revealed pulmonary artery sarcoma and an unresectable pulmonary artery aneurysm.

Mycotic pulmonary artery aneurysm as an unusual complication of thoracic actinomycosis

Although pulmonary artery aneurysms are a rare vascular anomaly, they are seen in a wide variety of conditions, such as congenital heart disease, infection, trauma, pulmonary hypertension, cystic medial necrosis and generalized vasculitis. To our knowledge, mycotic aneurysms caused by pulmonary actinomycosis have not been reported in the radiologic literature. Herein, a case of pulmonary actinomycosis complicated by mycotic aneurysm is presented. On CT scans, this case showed focal aneurysmal dilatation of a peripheral pulmonary artery within necrotizing pneumonia of the right lower lobe, which was successfully treated with transcatheter embolization using wire coils.

Left main coronary artery and right pulmonary vein compression by a large pulmonary artery aneurysm

Pulmonary artery aneurysms are uncommon and may be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The unique combination of left main coronary artery and upper right pulmonary vein compression by a large pulmonary artery aneurysm is reported. Furthermore, the aetiology, clinical manifestations, complications, diagnostic approach, and possible therapeutic interventions are briefly discussed.

A Mycotic Pulmonary Artery Aneurysm Presenting as an Endobronchial Mass

We report the case of a 49-year-old woman who developed an endobronchial mycotic pulmonary artery aneurysm (PAA) as a complication of pneumonia. After presenting with patchy infiltrates, she developed right lung atelectasis. A noncontrast chest CT scan revealed a mass in the right hilum, and bronchoscopy identified an obstructing lesion in the right mainstem bronchus. Unfortunately, biopsy caused massive hemorrhage, and the patient died. An autopsy identified a mycotic PAA that had invaded the right mainstem. The case suggests that a contrasted CT scan should be included in the evaluation of endobronchial masses and that PAA should be included in the differential diagnosis of such lesions.

Coil embolization of a left pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm after penetrating injury

PURPOSE

To report successful coil embolization of a rare traumatic pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm.

CASE REPORT

A 57-year-old man developed a pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm 14 days after he had been stabbed with a knife in the left lung. The pseudoaneurysm was diagnosed with contrast-enhanced computed tomography and confirmed by pulmonary arteriography. Coils were deployed in the feeding vessels to occlude the defect.

CONCLUSIONS

Pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm after penetrating chest injury can be treated by percutaneous catheter embolization, which is less invasive than surgery.

Magnetic resonance imaging of the main pulmonary artery: reliable assessment of dimensions in Marfan patients on a simple axial spin echo image

OBJECTIVE

To investigate if a simple axial spin echo (SE) image can be used for reliable assessment of pulmonary artery dimensions in patients with Marfan syndrome.

METHODS

Fifty Marfan patients (mean age 33 +/- 10 years; 34 men, 16 women) and 15 normal subjects (mean age 28 +/- 4 years; nine men, six women) underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Pulmonary artery dimensions were obtained on axial SE images at two different levels: (1) the level of the pulmonary artery root, and (2) the level of the pulmonary artery bifurcation. To evaluate the accuracy of axial plane measurements 10 Marfan patients also underwent contrast-enhanced MR angiography (CE-MRA).

RESULTS

In the 10 Marfan patients who also underwent CE-MRA, the mean diameter at the pulmonary bifurcation assessed with CE-MRA (31.5 +/- 3.6 mm) was almost equal to mean diameter assessed with axial SE (30.7 +/- 3.6 mm). Agreement of methodology according to Bland and Altman analysis showed a 95% confidence interval ranging from -2.6 to + 4.4 mm for all distances of the pulmonary artery root. In Marfan patients the mean right-left diameter measured on both axial SE images and CE-MRA was approximately 2.5 mm larger than the anterior-right and anterior-left diameters (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Axial SE MRI is a reliable and easy acquisition to measure pulmonary artery dimensions in patients with Marfan syndrome, and could be used for follow-up, especially in patients with severe involvement of the cardiovascular system. Not only the pulmonary artery trunk but also the asymmetric pulmonary root should be measured, although the clinical relevance of the asymmetric root is not yet known.

Three-decade follow-up in pulmonary artery ectasia: risk assessment strategy

We present a 29-year follow-up in a patient with ectasia of the pulmonary trunk and mild valvular stenosis. There was no progression from the first presentation at the age of 15 months until the actual age of 30 years, the z-value of the diameter of the pulmonary trunk remaining almost constant (z-value 22). This indicates that pulmonary dilatation with normal pressure may be a benign disease.

Swan-Ganz catheter-induced pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm formation: three case reports and a review of the literature

The use of Swan-Ganz catheters has increased tremendously since they were first introduced in 1970. Their ability to give vital hemodynamic measurements in critically ill patients makes their use invaluable when providing quality medical care. The formation of pulmonary artery (PA) pseudoaneurysm from a Swan-Ganz catheter-induced perforation of the PA is a rare but potentially fatal complication of Swan-Ganz catheter use. Three case presentations and a review of the literature are presented.

Idiopathic main pulmonary artery aneurysm

Main pulmonary artery aneurysms with no underlying pathology are very rare, and the role of surgery in this entity is not well defined. We report our experience of one case.

Rupture of pulmonary aneurysms in association with long-standing Waterston shunts

Anastomosis of the ascending aorta to the right pulmonary artery, the so-called Waterston shunt, was undertaken as a palliative procedure for children with cyanotic congenital heart disease due to obstruction of the pulmonary outflow tract with reduced pulmonary blood flow. We present the clinicopathological correlations in two patients who underwent construction of Waterston shunts as neonates, and subsequently died of ruptured pulmonary aneurysms in adult life. Rupture should, therefore, be recognized as a late complication of this procedure, and be considered in the long-term follow-up of such patients, especially when the shunted lung is hypertensive.

Graft replacement for huge aneurysm of the main pulmonary artery

We present 2 cases of huge aneurysm of the main pulmonary artery without significant pulmonary artery hypertension or intracardiac shunt. Both patients underwent surgery where resection of the aneurysm and graft replacement, using Hemashield prosthesis (Meadox Medicals, Oakland, NJ), was performed. They are now leading normal lives without any symptoms.

Surgical repair of the pulmonary trunk aneurysm

OBJECTIVE

Aneurysm formation of the pulmonary trunk is rare and there is controversy about optimal treatment for this disease. The aim of this article is to report four patients with pulmonary trunk aneurysm which were managed by surgical repair.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From 1986 to 1997, we performed surgical repair for pulmonary trunk aneurysm in four patients. There was one male and three female patients with a mean age of 63.3 years (range: 54-78 years). Concomitant diseases were cardiac valvular disease in four patients, thoracic aortic dissection in two, atherosclerotic abdominal aortic aneurysm in two, and coronary artery disease in one. All patients were in New York Heart Association functional class III preoperatively. Surgical procedures for the pulmonary trunk aneurysm included Dacron graft replacement in two patients and aneurysmorrhaphy in two. Associated procedures were cardiac valvular operation in three patients with four lesions and right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction (RVOTR) in one.

RESULTS

There were no operative mortalities and no late deaths with a mean follow-up period of 6.6 years (range: 2.4-10.0 years). One female patient developed recurrent pulmonary trunk aneurysm 9.5 years after aneurysmorrhaphy, and underwent a second operation where Dacron graft replacement of the aneurysm including pulmonary valve replacement was performed successfully. All patients are now leading normal lives.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical management should be considered for large aneurysm of the pulmonary trunk regardless of its etiology and underlying disease to prevent possible rupture with fatal result if the patient has an acceptably low operative risk.

Bilateral pulmonary artery aneurysm associated with bilateral pulmonary thromboembolism, superior vena caval thrombosis, and Chagas' disease--a case report

The authors report a case of bilateral pulmonary artery aneurysm in a patient with chronic Chagas' disease and compensated congestive heart failure in whom clinical clues suggested pulmonary thromboembolism, and the actual nature of the lesions was discovered at the time of conventional imaging investigations. This case shows the rarity of bilateral pulmonary aneurysm associated with bilateral pulmonary thromboembolism and the importance of an awareness of this condition in the differential diagnosis for lung masses.

Remodeling of the porcine pulmonary autograft wall in the aortic position

OBJECTIVE

Dilatation and valve regurgitation are disturbing sequelae of the pulmonary root functioning at systemic pressures. We tried to characterize the histologic mode of adaptation of the neoaortic wall.

METHODS

We compared routine histologic studies, immunohistochemical staining, and computer-assisted morphometric analysis of aortic, pulmonary autograft, and native pulmonary wall specimens from pigs in which, as a newborn, a valveless pulmonary autograft had been implanted in the aorta.

RESULTS

Histologic examination of the pulmonary autograft revealed a viable, normally revascularized wall without degenerative phenomena. Smooth muscle cells were enlarged and rearranged. The characteristic "pulmonary" medial elastin lamellar structure was retained, which was confirmed by morphometry. Immunohistochemistry of the autograft revealed relatively strong staining of type III collagen and alpha smooth muscle actin, exclusive staining of basic fibroblast growth factor, and no staining of proliferation markers proliferating cell nuclear antigen and Ki67.

CONCLUSION

The developing pulmonary autograft in the aortic position becomes normally revascularized, lacks major degenerative phenomena, and retains its own typical pulmonary morphologic features. Remodeling is accomplished by increased extracellular matrix deposition with collagen as an important constituent. The marked expression of growth factors in the autograft suggests the persistence of increased metabolic activity.

Aneurysm in the pulmonary trunk associated with atrial septal defect, a left coronary artery fistula to the pulmonary trunk, and valvular pulmonary stenosis

A 78-year-old woman with an aneurysm in the pulmonary trunk associated with an atrial septal defect, left anterior descending coronary artery fistula to the pulmonary trunk and valvular pulmonary stenosis is reported. The aneurysm showed gradual dilatation over 16 years and was successfully treated using aneurysmorrhaphy. Although there has been some controversy regarding the optimum management for a pulmonary artery aneurysm, surgical correction is thought to be essential for aneurysms associated with congenital cardiac anomalies because of the high incidence of rupture.

Untreated idiopathic aneurysm of the pulmonary artery; long-term follow-up

A 57-year-old man with an idiopathic aneurysm of the left pulmonary artery is presented. The aneurysm was stable over many decades. No such long-term follow-up of an idiopathic pulmonary aneurysm has been described previously. After 39 years there is no evidence of heart failure or pulmonary hypertension. Because corrective surgery has a variable outcome, and prognosis is suggested to be good in the idiopathic form of pulmonary aneurysm, no surgical correction was proposed.

Complex pulmonary atresia in an adult: natural history, unusual pathology and mode of death

A patient with unrepaired complex pulmonary atresia had a normal life, achieving two successful pregnancies, until the age of 44 years. Confluent central pulmonary arteries were supplied by a fistuious communication from the left coronary artery, and from other collateral arteries arising from the underside of the aortic arch. Unusual aneurysms were present. Death at the age of 46 resulted from dissection and rupture of an aneurysmal dilation of the pulmonary trunk.