Thrombosed pulmonary artery aneurysm. A rare cause of a high-probability lung scan

The high-probability ventilation-perfusion lung scan is accepted as supportive of pulmonary embolism and often negates further diagnostic evaluation; however, there are processes that mimic the clinical presentation and radiographic findings of pulmonary emboli, including a unilateral segmental or g...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inChest Vol. 102; no. 4; p. 1292
Main Authors Fields, C L, Roy, T M, Ossorio, M A
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.10.1992
Subjects
Adult
Aneurysm - diagnostic imaging
Diagnosis, Differential
Female
Humans
Lung - diagnostic imaging
Pulmonary Artery - diagnostic imaging
Pulmonary Embolism - diagnostic imaging
Radionuclide Imaging
Thrombosis - diagnostic imaging
Ventilation-Perfusion Ratio
Online AccessGet more information

Cover

More Information
Summary:The high-probability ventilation-perfusion lung scan is accepted as supportive of pulmonary embolism and often negates further diagnostic evaluation; however, there are processes that mimic the clinical presentation and radiographic findings of pulmonary emboli, including a unilateral segmental or greater perfusion defect. We present the findings in a patient whose presentation and ventilation-perfusion scans over a three-month course were suggestive of pulmonary embolism, yet pulmonary angiography revealed a thrombosed pulmonary artery aneurysm. The interpretation of a unilateral segmental perfusion defect as high probability does not secure the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism and should not preclude further evaluation for alternative etiologies.
ISSN:0012-3692
DOI:10.1378/chest.102.4.1292