title: An uncommon cause of chest pain in the deployed soldier.
abstract: Chest pain is a common complaint at medical treatment facilities during combat operations. The initial evaluation focuses on potentially life-threatening conditions (acute coronary syndrome, aortic dissection, pulmonary embolus), in addition to pericarditis and benign musculoskeletal conditions such as costochondritis. Pulmonary arteriovenous malformation is a rare condition, but an important diagnostic consideration in soldiers who present with chest pain and/or hypoxia and in whom other life-threatening conditions, such as cardiovascular disasters and pulmonary embolus, are excluded. We present the case of a male soldier deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom, who was air-evacuated back to Washington, DC, for definitive care. We present his case and a review of the relevant literatures on the diagnosis and treatment of patients with pulmonary arteriovenous malformations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Dewitt Army Community Hospital, Ft Belvoir, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Labra
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Collen
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mikita
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000792:Angiography; D001165:Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D004452:Echocardiography; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D014481:United States