title: [An analysis of 21 cases of idiopathic dilatation of the pulmonary artery].
abstract: Idiopathic dilatation of the pulmonary artery (IDPA) is a disease which, generally speaking, does not need treatment. But a correct differential diagnosis is of great importance. 21 cases of IDPA were reported. The clinical data showed that 66.67% of the patients were asymptomatic and all the patients had normal respiratory and cardiovascular functions. 10% of the cases had had a history of more than 20 years. The results showed that IDPA was a benign anomaly and most of its symptoms were iatrogenic. It was usually misdiagnosed as pulmonary stenosis (42.86%), atrial septal defect (38.10%), pulmonary hypertension (28.57%), and so on. Careful chest X-ray, ECG and UCG examinations are useful for the differential diagnosis, but a clinical diagnosis should be based on the normal result of right heart catheterization.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing.
authors.forename: Y J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: X S
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D011859:Radiography; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis