Pulmonary venous anomalies causing misdiagnosis of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations.

PURPOSE

To investigate pulmonary venous anomaly as a cause of pulmonary arteriovenous malformation (PAVM) misdiagnosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We reviewed adult patients within a 7.5-year period with CT scans initially diagnosed with PAVM and subsequent conventional pulmonary angiograms.

RESULTS

Pulmonary arteriography showed no PAVM on arterial phase for 10 out of 99 patients, comprising the misdiagnosed group. Four misdiagnosed patients had pulmonary venous anomalies and six had nodular lesions on CT.

CONCLUSION

Pulmonary venous anomalies are vascular mimics of PAVMs that may lead to misdiagnosis. Optimal CT technique and careful imaging review are necessary to minimize inappropriate invasive angiography.