Occlusion of the right pulmonary artery: a rare, late complication of radiation therapy.
Two cases of total occlusion of the right pulmonary artery 22 and 28 years after mediastinal irradiation are presented. The first patient is alive 29 years after the radiation therapy, and the second patient died of heart failure 31 years after the therapy. This very rare complication is one cause of radiological unilateral hyperlucent lung syndrome. The diagnosis can be confirmed by clinical history, clinical examination, chest roentgenogram, lung scan and pulmonary angiography.
D000328:Adult; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011859:Radiography; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013577:Syndrome