Pulmonary Artery Pseudoaneurysm: Etiology, Presentation, Diagnosis, and Treatment

ABSTRACT

Pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysms (PAPs) are uncommon but associated with high mortality. Left untreated, lesions can enlarge, rupture, and lead to exsanguination and death. Presentations range from life-threatening hemorrhage to silent lesions that enlarge for days, months, or years. Because abnormalities on imaging studies can lead to early diagnosis and treatment and embolization is the treatment of choice, the radiologist can contribute to both timely diagnosis and treatment of PAPs. Pseudoaneurysms due to penetrating trauma, blunt trauma, bacterial endocarditis, and complications related to pulmonary artery catheters and right heart catheterization are presented. Three were treated by embolization.

KEYWORDS

Pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm

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