"High probability" perfusion lung scans in pulmonary venoocclusive disease.
"High-probability" ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) lung scans generally indicate proximal pulmonary arterial occlusion by thromboemboli or, rarely, other processes such as tumors, fibrosing mediastinitis, or vasculitis. In this report we describe three patients with high probability V/Q scans in whom pulmonary angiography failed to demonstrate arterial occlusion. All three patients were determined to have pulmonary venoocclusive disease (PVOD). In two patients, a tissue diagnosis of PVOD was made, in one case with explanted tissue taken after a successful heart-lung transplant and in the other case with tissue taken at autopsy. PVOD in the third patient was diagnosed with pulmonary venography. A potential explanation for the discrepancy between perfusion lung scan and pulmonary angiographic findings in PVOD is discussed.
Bailey
C L
CL
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, California 92103-7381, USA.
Channick
R N
RN
Auger
W R
WR
Fedullo
P F
PF
Kerr
K M
KM
Yung
G L
GL
Rubin
L J
LJ
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011668:Pulmonary Veno-Occlusive Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011859:Radiography; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D014692:Ventilation-Perfusion Ratio