Isolated unilateral absence of pulmonary artery mimicking chronic pulmonary embolism at chest X-ray: multidetector-row CT angiographic findings

Clin Imaging. 2012 Nov-Dec;36(6):845-9. doi: 10.1016/j.clinimag.2012.01.025. Epub 2012 Jun 8.

Abstract

Unilateral absence of pulmonary artery (UAPA) is a rare congenital anomaly which can seldom be isolated (1:200,000) and incidentally discovered in adulthood. We describe the case of a 54-year-old male patient who was found to have isolated UAPA (IUAPA) during the clinical and radiological investigation of a single episode of hemoptysis. Although abnormal, chest X-ray findings differed considerably from those previously reported and the diagnosis was only achieved by multidetector-row computed tomography angiography and later confirmed by bed-side echocardiography. Further clinical and instrumental investigation revealed systemic hypertension (158/95 mmHg) and bilateral mild hydronephrosis which both remitted after transurethral prostatic adenomyomectomy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Angiography / methods*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pulmonary Artery / abnormalities*
  • Pulmonary Artery / diagnostic imaging*
  • Pulmonary Embolism / diagnostic imaging
  • Radiography, Thoracic / methods*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods*