[Contribution of pulmonary CT angiography in assessing the severity of acute pulmonary embolism]

Chest CT angiography has taken a major role in the management of patients with suspected pulmonary embolism. Meanwhile, it became necessary to determine the severity criteria at the time of diagnosis in order to properly assess the risk/benefit of treatment to consider. In recent years, pulmonary CT angiography has emerged as a useful tool for assessing the severity of acute lung embolism, based on morphological criteria. The two main approaches that were studied were the quantification of obstruction of pulmonary arterial bed and recognition of signs of right heart failure. The aim of our work is to define the morphological parameters in cardiovascular pulmonary CT angiography and to determine their value in the current clinical prognostic stratification of acute pulmonary embolism of, especially their correlation with the risk of developing signs of clinical severity at diagnosis and at 3 months of the occurrence of pulmonary embolism.

[A case of bronchopulmonary sequestration]

INTRODUCTION

Bronchopulmonary sequestration is a rare congenital abnormality characterized by the presence of a non-functioning mass of lung tissue which receives an aberrant arterial supply from systemic circulation.

CASE REPORT

We describe the case of a 30-year-old man who presented with recurrent episodes of mild hemoptysis. CT angiography revealed a right inferior lobar sequestration supplied by three systemic arteries. The patient underwent thoracotomy with right lower lobectomy and section-ligature of the three abnormal vessels.

CONCLUSION

This case highlights the radiological features as well as the intraoperative appearances of this rare anomaly.

[Imaging of pulmonary artery involvement in Takayasu disease]

OBJECTIVES

Illustrate imaging aspects of pulmonary artery involvement in Takayasu's arteritis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Retrospective study of six patients among 28 patients with Takayasu arteritis whose disease involved the pulmonary arteries and to review their clinical and computed tomography data.

RESULTS

Mean patient age among those with pulmonary artery involvement was 34 years. All patients exhibited extensive lesions of systemic arteries. The most common computed tomography angiography sign was wall thickening. Dilatation of the pulmonary artery trunk was observed in one-third of cases.

CONCLUSION

Pulmonary arterial involvement in Takayasu's disease is not uncommon. Computed tomography is a reliable imaging technique to establish the diagnosis.