Added benefit of thoracic aortography after transarterial embolization in patients with hemoptysis.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine the usefulness of thoracic aortography performed after transarterial embolization in identifying additional arteries responsible for causing hemoptysis.


METHODS
Between March 2000 and November 2001, we prospectively performed thoracic aortography after transarterial embolization in 76 patients with hemoptysis. Underlying diseases included tuberculosis (n = 34), bronchiectasis (n = 30), emphysema (n = 4), bronchitis (n = 4), aspergillosis (n = 3), and lung cancer (n = 1). Initially, angiography of bronchial and other systemic arteries possibly contributing to hemoptysis was performed with embolization. After completion of the embolization, thoracic aortography was performed, with the tip of the catheter located just distal to the origin of the left subclavian artery.


RESULTS
A total of 200 arteries (52 right bronchial, 40 left bronchial, six common bronchial, 76 intercostal, 11 inferior phrenic, six thoracodorsal, eight internal mammary, and one thyrocervical) were identified either at the initial embolization or on thoracic aortography as being responsible for causing hemoptysis. Among them, 29 arteries (14.5%) that were not included on the initial selection for embolization were later identified on postembolization thoracic aortography. There were two right bronchial, three left bronchial, eight inferior phrenic, and 16 intercostal arteries.


CONCLUSIONS
The inferior phrenic and intercostal arteries were often missed on routine transarterial embolization in patients with hemoptysis. Postembolization thoracic aortography is useful for monitoring the effectiveness of embolization and for improving the detection of arteries contributing to hemoptysis.
Chun
Ho Jong
HJ
Department of Radiology, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 505 Banpo-Dong, Seocho-Ku, Seoul 137-040, Korea.
Byun
Jae Young
JY
Yoo
Seung-Schik
SS
Choi
Byung Gil
BG
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D001027:Aortography; D001981:Bronchial Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D006469:Hemoptysis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index