Thrombosed pulmonary artery aneurysm. A rare cause of a high-probability lung scan.
The high-probability ventilation-perfusion lung scan is accepted as supportive of pulmonary embolism and often negates further diagnostic evaluation; however, there are processes that mimic the clinical presentation and radiographic findings of pulmonary emboli, including a unilateral segmental or greater perfusion defect. We present the findings in a patient whose presentation and ventilation-perfusion scans over a three-month course were suggestive of pulmonary embolism, yet pulmonary angiography revealed a thrombosed pulmonary artery aneurysm. The interpretation of a unilateral segmental perfusion defect as high probability does not secure the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism and should not preclude further evaluation for alternative etiologies.
Fields
C L
CL
Department of Respiratory and Environmental Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine.
Roy
T M
TM
Ossorio
M A
MA
D000328:Adult; D000783:Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014692:Ventilation-Perfusion Ratio