Discussion
Diagnosis With Brief Discussion
- Diagnosis
- Systemic arterial supply to the lung (left lower lobe)
- Radiologic Findings
- Lung window of CT scan shows that the vessels of the left lover lobe are hypertrophied in comparison with those of the contralateral lung. Contrast material enhanced CT scan and coronal MIP image show an enlarged anomalous systemic artery originating from descending thoracic aorta. Posteroanterior chest radiograph shows retrocardiac increased opacity in the retrocardiac area.
- Brief Review
- Anomalous systemic arterial supply to the normal basal segments with normal bronchial connection of the lower lobe, which has no normal pulmonary arterial supply without sequestration, is a rare congenital anomaly. The most common clinical manifestation in pediatric patients is a cardiac murmur, but most adult patients are asymptomatic or have recurrent hemoptysis.
Although the cause of systemic arterial supply to normal lung tissue is unknown, it is thought that persistence of an embryonic connection between the aorta and the pulmonary parenchyma leads to this anomaly.
At posteroanterior chest radiography, the anomalous systemic artery appears as an ill-defined nodular area of increased opacity in the medial aspect of the left lower lobe, absence of normal lower lobar pulmonary artery shadow in the left infrahilar region, partial obliteration of the interface of the descending thoracic aorta, and increased interstitial markings in the left lower lung zone. CT scan shows vascular structures with the same attenuation as the thoracic aorta in the left lower lobe. Other CT findings include absence of the interlobar artery distal to the origin of the superior segmental artery, diffuse dilatation of peripheral pulmonary vasculature and areas of ground-glass opacity with mild volume decrease in the involved basal segments.
- References
- 1. Tae Sung Kim, Kyung Soo Lee, Jung-Gi Im, Jin Mo Goo, Jai Soung Park, Jin Hwan Kim. Systemic Arterial Supply to the Normal Basal Segments of the Left Lower Lobe. Radiographic and CT Findings in 11 Patients. Journal of Thoracic Imaging 2002:17;34-39.
2. Kyung-Hyun Do, Jin Mo Goo, Jung-Gi Im, Jae Hyung Park et al. Systemic Arterial Supply to the Lungs in Adults: Spiral CT Findings. Radiograhics 2001:21;387-402
- Keywords
- lung, pulmonary artery, congenital, congenital,