Internal mammary artery to pulmonary artery fistula associated with sick sinus syndrome: report of a case.

A 77-year-old woman presented with general weakness, dizziness and slow, irregular heart beats. An electrophysiologic study revealed a markedly prolonged sinus node recovery time of up to 5,900 msec, accompanied with dizziness. A permanent pacemaker with an AAIR mode was implanted. An abnormal shadow in the right lower lung field was found on chest x-ray. Selective arteriography revealed a right internal mammary to right pulmonary artery fistula. No significant hemodynamic abnormalities were found. This anomaly is extremely rare. Our patient is the oldest among 20 cases reported in the literature, and is the first one associated with sick sinus syndrome. Most reported cases have involved surgical ligation and excision, due to the risk of rupture of the malformation, endarteritis and congestive heart failure. Our patient refused surgical intervention and has done well during the past year.