Unilateral absence of a pulmonary artery (UAPA) is a rare congenital anomaly. The occurrence of lung cancer in association with UAPA is even rarer, and clinical experience is very limited. This report aims to describe a case of unilateral absence of the right pulmonary artery that was associated with primary carcinoma of the contralateral lung. Both ipsilateral and contralateral lung cancer operations in patients with UAPA are extremely rare, with limited clinical experience. This article provides insights into the operative tolerability and outcomes after lung surgery in patients with UAPA, with an analysis of the operation strategy based on digital preoperative planning and surgical simulation with three-dimensional (3D) visualization, which may enable lung cancer surgery to be performed safely.
Keywords: Embryonic development; Lung cancer; Thoracic surgery; Three-dimensional visualization; Unilateral absence of pulmonary artery.