"Absent" pulmonary artery in one adult and five pediatric patients: imaging, embryology, and therapeutic implications.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this article is to present serial clinical and imaging findings for the "absent" pulmonary artery. Data from six patients with this condition (five unilateral cases and one bilateral case) provide evidence concerning its embryology and illustrate the therapeutic implications of surgical intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
In our series, we found the anatomy of the absent pulmonary artery to be consistent with a distal ductal origin and involution of the proximal sixth aortic arch. The absent pulmonary artery is a distinct embryologic entity that requires early detection and detailed investigation. Early surgical intervention may be justified in selected patients.
Apostolopoulou
Sotiria C
SC
Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, 356 Syngrou Ave., Athens, GR 176 74, Greece.
Kelekis
Nikolaos L
NL
Brountzos
Elias N
EN
Rammos
Spyridon
S
Kelekis
Dimitrios A
DA
D000328:Adult; D000792:Angiography; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed