Unilateral absence of ventilation and perfusion due to thoracic aortic aneurysm.
An elderly man presented with progressive atelectasis of the left lung, a mediastinal mass, and dilatation of the thoracic aorta. Ventilation and perfusion radionuclide lung scans revealed the complete absence of ventilation in the left lung and near-complete absence of perfusion. Evaluation by MRI and angiography showed an obstructing mediastinal "mass" to be a saccular aortic aneurysm. A thoracic aortic aneurysm should be a consideration in the differential diagnosis for unilateral decrease or absence of ventilation and perfusion with a history or findings of mediastinal mass or aneurysm.
Duke
R A
RA
Department of Radiology, University of Tennessee, Memphis.
Barrett
M R
MR
Payne
S D
SD
Massie
J D
JD
Salazar
J E
JE
Gavant
M L
ML
D000368:Aged; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012119:Respiration