CT findings, prognosis, and follow-up of pulmonary artery periadventitial hematoma with aortic dissection: a retrospective single-center study

Background: Pulmonary artery periadventitial hematoma (PAPH) with aortic dissection (AD) is a rare condition but has been reported to correlate with prognosis. However, there are few cases of PAPH, and the relationship with computed tomography (CT) findings of AD are unknown. This study aimed to evaluate CT findings and early prognosis in patients with PAPH in AD.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of data from patients with Stanford type A AD diagnosed with contrast-enhanced CT in our institution from April 2008 to February 2023; 316 patients were included in the analyses. Patients comprised a PAPH group (n=78) and a non-PAPH group (n=238). The PAPH group was further divided into a group that died within 1 week of onset (death group; n=15) and a group that survived (alive group; n=63). PAPH was classified into three grades on the basis of the CT findings, as follows: Grade 1: PAPH only in the mediastinum; Grade 2: PAPH that extended into the lung field, with/without interlobular septa; and Grade 3: PAPH with pulmonary hemorrhage.

Results: Compared with the non-PAPH group, the PAPH group had higher rates of early death (P=0.001), pericardial (P<0.001) and mediastinal hemorrhage (P<0.001). When comparing the death and alive groups, there was a significant difference in the rates of inoperable case (P<0.001), Grade 3 PAPH (PAPH with pulmonary hemorrhage) (P<0.001), and hemothorax (P=0.02). Multivariable analysis showed a significant association between Grade 3 PAPH (PAPH with pulmonary hemorrhage) and early death (P=0.004).

Conclusions: Standard type A AD with PAPH is not rare. Mortality was higher in the PAPH group vs. the non-PAPH group, and Grade 3 PAPH (PAPH with pulmonary hemorrhage) was a significant risk factor for early death.