Thoracoscopic Sublobectomy for Lung Cancer in a Patient with Unilateral Absence of Pulmonary Artery: Case Report and Narrative Review

• Published in: Annals of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Vol. 30; no. 1; p. cr.24-00115
• Main Authors: Ai, Jiangshan, Zhao, Lianzheng, Gao, Huijiang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan The Editorial Committee of Annals of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2024
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma - complications; Adenocarcinoma - diagnostic imaging; Adenocarcinoma - pathology; Adenocarcinoma - surgery; Adenocarcinoma of Lung - diagnostic imaging; Adenocarcinoma of Lung - pathology; Adenocarcinoma of Lung - surgery; Case Report; Female; Humans; Incidental Findings; lung cancer; Lung Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Lung Neoplasms - surgery; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Neoplasm Staging; Pneumonectomy; Pulmonary Artery - abnormalities; Pulmonary Artery - diagnostic imaging; Pulmonary Artery - surgery; sublobectomy; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted; Treatment Outcome; unilateral absence of pulmonary artery; Vascular Malformations - complications; Vascular Malformations - diagnostic imaging; Vascular Malformations - surgery; lung cancer; unilateral absence of pulmonary artery; sublobectomy
• ISSN: 1341-1098; 2186-1005; 2186-1005
• DOI: 10.5761/atcs.cr.24-00115

Unilateral absence of a pulmonary artery (UAPA) is an uncommon congenital anomaly. Among the rarer conditions, UAPA with lung cancer has been previously reported in 13 cases; however, there remains controversy regarding the surgical approach and precautions. Herein, we present a case study of a 56-year-old female patient who was incidentally diagnosed with a nodule in the right lower lobe of the lung during a routine physical examination and subsequently found to have an absent right pulmonary artery upon preoperative evaluation. A wedge resection of the right lower lobe was performed as treatment. Postoperative pathology confirmed invasive adenocarcinoma (pT1N0M0). We provide a narrative review of existing literature on these patients and discuss optimal surgical management strategies.