title: Paradoxical pulmonary embolism secondary to aortocaval fistula: diagnosis by helical CT.
abstract: Spontaneous aortocaval fistula is an unusual but well recognized complication of abdominal aortic aneurysm. Reports of aortocaval fistula as the source of pulmonary embolism are rare. We report a case of paradoxical pulmonary embolism secondary to an aortocaval fistula. The abdominal aortic aneurysm and the associated aortocaval fistula were well demonstrated on helical CT, leading to early diagnosis and prompt surgical treatment with good clinical outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lay
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Swainson
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Sukumar
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001164:Arteriovenous Fistula / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002303:Cardiac Output, Low / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D012008:Recurrence; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*