Acquired aorta-pulmonary artery fistula: diagnosis by multiple imaging modalities.
Acquired communication between the aorta and the pulmonary artery is a rare phenomenon. We describe two patients with a thoracic aortic aneurysm in whom the diagnosis of a communication with the pulmonary artery was first made on transthoracic echocardiography and then more completely elucidated by means of multiple imaging modalities: transesophageal echocardiography, epiaortic ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. Representative images from these complementary studies are presented. A successful repair of the fistula was subsequently accomplished in both patients.
Kort
S
S
Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA.
Tunick
P A
PA
Applebaum
R M
RM
Hayes
R
R
Krinsky
G A
GA
Sadler
W
W
Culliford
A
A
Grossi
E
E
Ostrowski
J
J
Kronzon
I
I
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D004452:Echocardiography; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016157:Vascular Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery