Pulmonary varix mimicking arteriovenous malformation

A Diagnostic Conundrum

“…Radiographically congenital varices may mimic AVMs, and case reports of pulmonary varices misdiagnosed as AVMs on CT scan have been documented. 15 Therefore, although contrast-enhanced helical CT scan can aid in the evaluation of complex pulmonary vascular abnormalities, pulmonary angiography remains essential for correct diagnosis of pulmonary varix. In case of pulmonary varix, angiogram demonstrates opacification of dilated tortuous vascular structure during the venous phase.…”

Pulmonary venous varix associated with mitral regurgitation mimicking a mediastinal mass: A case report and review of the literature

“…PVV is defined as a focal pathologic aneurysmal dilatation of the pulmonary vein [1] . It can be congenital or acquired.…”

“…Pulmonary venous varices may be congenital or acquired [1] . A major cause of acquired cases is mitral valve insufficiency leading to pulmonary venous hypertension, as in our case.…”

“…Multidetector computed tomography (CT) scan is crucial in determining its exact nature as it is noninvasive and provides important information on the accurate size and location [2] . Nevertheless, conventional angiography is still considered the gold standard for definitive diagnosis [1] , [3] . Management of the causative factor has a positive influence on the reduction of the varix size, thereby providing relief [3] , [4] .…”

A Case of Pulmonary Varix Associated with Superior Pulmonary Vein Occlusion

“…The occlusion of the right superior lobe branch of the pulmonary vein, clarified by multiplanar reformation of multislice CT, suggested that it was due to hypoplasia or occlusion of the branch, which caused vascular advancement as a collateral pathway simultaneously with the development of the interlobular region and secondarily formed the pulmonary varix, rather than due to abnormal distribution in the embryonic development of the pulmonary vein. Only a few cases of the pulmonary vein passing through the interlobular fissure have been reported by Kumazoe et al 4) and Hanson et al 5) The diagnosis of an abnormal blood vessel passing through the lung parenchyma and then thoracic cavity is important because it may cause hemothorax. 6,7) Only one case of varix accompanied by pulmonary venous occlusion diagnosed by angiography has previously been reported, 8) and no case directly imaged by multislice CT has been reported.…”