Pulmonary Vein Stenosis after Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: An Early Diagnosis Using Unenhanced Computed Tomography

• Published in: Internal Medicine Vol. 63; no. 10; pp. 1443 - 1449
• Main Authors: Kojima, Soichiro, Matsuki, Mitsuru, Fujii, Nana, Kunitomo, Naoki, Nakamata, Akihiro, Fujii, Hiroyuki, Yokoyama, Kota, Nakaya, Moto, Watanabe, Hiroaki, Kamioka, Masashi, Watanabe, Tomonori, Mori, Harushi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine 15.05.2024; Japan Science and Technology Agency
• Subjects: Aged; Atrial Fibrillation - diagnostic imaging; Atrial Fibrillation - surgery; Case Report; catheter ablation; Catheter Ablation - adverse effects; Catheters; Computed tomography; Diagnosis; Early Diagnosis; Female; Fibrillation; Humans; lobar volume loss; Male; Middle Aged; Pneumonia; Postoperative Complications - diagnosis; Postoperative Complications - diagnostic imaging; Postoperative Complications - etiology; pulmonary vein stenosis; Pulmonary Veins - diagnostic imaging; Pulmonary Veins - surgery; pulmonary vessels; Radiofrequency ablation; Stenosis; Stenosis, Pulmonary Vein - diagnostic imaging; Stenosis, Pulmonary Vein - etiology; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; unenhanced CT; catheter ablation; unenhanced CT; pulmonary vein stenosis; pulmonary vessels; lobar volume loss
• ISSN: 0918-2918; 1349-7235; 1349-7235
• DOI: 10.2169/internalmedicine.2289-23

Pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) is a serious complication of catheter ablation (CA) for atrial fibrillation (AF). PVS generally occurs several months after CA and presents with non-specific symptoms and imaging findings. There have been reports of delayed diagnoses due to a misdiagnosis as infection, interstitial pneumonia, or organizing pneumonia. We introduced six cases of PVS after CA, all of which showed narrowing of the unilateral pulmonary vessels with or without lobar volume loss in the left lung on unenhanced computed tomography. We report these findings as important results indicating the possibility of PVS after CA for AF and contributing to the early diagnosis and management of PVS.