Absent pulmonary valve syndrome with tetralogy of Fallot and associated dextrocardia detected at an early gestational age of 26 weeks

Spectrum of pulmonary valve morphology and its relationship to pulmonary trunk in tetralogy of Fallot

BACKGROUND

Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is a complex congenital heart disease with anatomic variations. Although the pulmonary valve in TOF is abnormal, it has not been studied well, especially on newer imaging modalities such as multidetector computed tomography (CT), which gives excellent anatomic detail.

AIMS

The aim of this study was to assess the morphology of pulmonary valve in TOF on CT and evaluate its association with the degree of hypoplasia of infundibulum and pulmonary trunk.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The cardiac CT scans of 30 patients with TOF were reviewed to evaluate the morphology of the pulmonary valve, infundibulum, and pulmonary arteries. Fisher's exact test was performed to examine the association between pulmonary valve morphology and degree of hypoplasia of the infundibulum and pulmonary trunk.

RESULTS

16.7% of patients with TOF had pulmonary atresia. The prevalence of tricuspid, bicuspid, and absent valves were 10%, 53.3% and 6.7%, respectively. In another 13.3% of patients, although valve tissue was present, exact morphology could not be determined on CT. The commissures of 62.5% of the bicuspid valves were at 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock or slightly off the midline. There was statistically significant association between valve morphology and degree of infundibular hypoplasia (P < 0.001) and calibre of pulmonary trunk (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Morphological abnormality of the pulmonary valve is common in TOF. The most common type of pulmonary valve in TOF patients is bicuspid valve with commissures at 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock or slightly off the midline. Fewer cusps of the pulmonary valve are associated with a more severe degree of pulmonary artery hypoplasia.

Evaluation of cardiovascular morphology and airway-related abnormalities in tetralogy of fallot with absent pulmonary valve syndrome on multidetector computed tomography angiography

AIM

To evaluate the cardiovascular, tracheobronchial and pulmonary abnormalities associated with tetralogy of Fallot with absent pulmonary valve syndrome (TOF-APVS) on multidetector computed tomograpgy (MDCT) angiography.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a retrospective review of our electronic database from January, 2014 to December, 2020 to identify pediatric patients diagnosed with TOF-APVS on MDCT angiography. Pulmonary anatomy, associated tracheobronchial and coronary compression, compression of intrapulmonary bronchi, lung parenchymal changes and other associated cardiovascular abnormalities were evaluated.

RESULTS

Forty-seven patients with TOF-APVS were included in the study. Compression of the airways was observed at multiple levels; 4 (8.5%) patients had carinal compression while right main bronchus and left main bronchus compression was seen in 12 (25.5%) and 16 (34.0%) patients, respectively. Forty-three (91.5%) patients showed abnormal pulmonary arterial branching at the segmental level and compression at the level of intrapulmonary bronchi was seen in 24 (51.1%) patients. Some degree of air trapping was seen in 35 (74.5%) patients whereas atelectasis was observed in 15 (31.9%) patients. Mild coronary arterial compression was seen in 3 (6.4%) patients.

CONCLUSION

TOF-APVS is characterized by aneurysmal dilatation of pulmonary arteries leading to a varying degree of airway compression. However, even in the absence of compression of the trachea and main bronchi, there can be distal bronchial compression secondary to abnormal pulmonary arterial branching resulting in lung abnormalities in the majority of these patients. This study highlights the importance of dedicated airway assessment in addition to cardiovascular morphological assessment by MDCT angiography, before planning surgery.

Stenotic lesions of pulmonary arteries: imaging evaluation using multidetector computed tomography angiography

Stenotic lesions of the pulmonary arteries can be congenital or acquired. Different etiologies may affect the pulmonary arteries, unilaterally or bilaterally, at different levels. The clinical scenario, age of presentation and the precipitating event may provide clues to the underlying etiology. Diagnosis is important as these lesions may have hemodynamic and clinical consequences. Multidetector computed tomography angiography allows for accurate depiction of these lesions along with a comprehensive assessment of the pulmonary arterial wall, intra- or extraluminal involvement, associated cardiac or extracardiac anomalies, effects secondary to pulmonary stenosis on the cardiac chambers as well as associated causative or resultant lung parenchymal changes.

A Rare Triad of Giant Occipital Encephalocele with Lipomyelomeningocele, Tetralogy of Fallot, and Situs Inversus

Giant encephalocele is an uncommon congenital anomaly with very few published reports available in the English literature. Tetralogy of Fallot associated with situs inversus is also infrequently reported. To our knowledge there are no published reports of an association between giant encephalocele and Tetralogy of Fallot. The additional finding of situs inversus results in a rare pathologic triad, not heretofore described.

Perinatal Thoracic Mass Lesions: Pre- and Postnatal Imaging

Chest masses present a common problem in the perinatal period. Advances in prenatal ultrasound, supplemented by fetal magnetic resonance imaging, now allow early detection and detailed characterization of many thoracic lesions in utero. As such, in asymptomatic infants, assessment with postnatal computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging can often be delayed for several months until the time at which surgery is being contemplated. Bronchopulmonary malformations comprise most of the thoracic masses encountered in clinical practice. However, a variety of other pathologies can mimic their appearances or produce similar effects such as hypoplasia of a lung or both lungs. Understanding of the key differentiating clinical and imaging features can assist in optimizing prognostication and timely management.

Tetralogy of fallot with dextrocardia and situs inversus in a 7-year-old boy

Tetralogy of Fallot is one of the most frequently diagnosed congenital cardiac abnormalities; however, its association with dextrocardia and situs inversus is reported only rarely. We report a case of these findings in a 7-year-old boy, describe the patient's postoperative course, and review the medical literature relevant to these combined conditions.

Absent pulmonary valve syndrome with left hemitruncus

Absent pulmonary valve syndrome (APVS) is a rare congenital heart defect, usually associated with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), although other associations have been described. A pregnant woman was referred to fetal echocardiography clinic from the Maternal Fetal Medicine department due to abnormal findings on routine antenatal ultrasound, showing a pulsatile cystic mass above the left atrium and a suspected TOF. A fetal echocardiogram confirmed the presence of TOF/APVS. The pulsatile cystic mass was the aneurysmally dilated main pulmonary artery. The exact origin of the left pulmonary artery (LPA) was not clearly established prenatally. A postnatal echocardiogram of the neonate showed an abnormal origin of the LPA from the ascending aorta (hemitruncus). The neonate subsequently underwent surgical repair with a good outcome. We present a novel case of a TOF/APVS associated with an abnormal origin of the LPA from the ascending aorta.