[Pulmonary embolism by cyanoacrylate following embolisation of an arteriovenous malformation].
BACKGROUND
Symptomatic complications can occur after intravascular injection of cyanoacrylate glue. We report a case of pulmonary embolism following embolisation of an arteriovenous malformation (AVM).


METHODS
A 46-year-old woman was found to have an internal iliac AVM which was obliterated using N-butyl-2 cyanoacrylate (NBCA) mixed with lipiodol. The early clinical course was uneventful. On the third post-operative day she complained of sudden, transient chest tightness. On admission one hour later the chest pain had disappeared. Physical examination was normal. A chest roentgenogram showed multiple, dense, branched opacities scattered throughout both lung fields which were confirmed on HRCT, suggesting diffuse scattered embolism of iodine- labelled NBCA. The radiological signs persisted 6 months later.


CONCLUSIONS
Endovascular treatment of arteriovenous malformations with NBCA can be responsible for symptomatic pulmonary embolism. This is not detectable radiologically in the absence of contrast medium. Radiologists should be aware of these often asymptomatic, but sometimes fatal, embolic complications.
Favrolt
N
N
Service de Pneumologie et Réanimation Respiratoire, CHU de Dijon, France. nicolas.favrolt@chu-dijon.fr
Bonniaud
P
P
Cercueil
J-P
JP
Logerot
S
S
Foucher
P
P
Camus
C
C
Camus
P
P
D001165:Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000628:therapy*; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D003487:Cyanoacrylates / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000002:abnormalities*; D007084:Iliac Vein / Q000002:abnormalities*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D003487:Cyanoacrylates; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D010100:Oxygen