PULMONARY ARTERY ANEURYSM: A VERY RARE ENTITY

Abstract

Pulmonary artery aneurysm (PAA) is defined as a focal dilatation of the pulmonary artery.  It is noted to be very rare and infrequently diagnosed. From literature reviews, only 8 cases of pulmonary artery aneurysms were identified from a total of 109,571 cases within an extended period of 100 years.  This gives an incidence of about 0.0073%.  PAA is usually associated with some structural cardiac anomalies, structural vascular anomalies, pulmonary hypertension, vasculitis and infection.  However, idiopathic pulmonary artery aneurysm has also been identified in some cases. PAA can be classified as proximal or peripheral PAA depending on its location.  Most of the patients are asymptomatic.  Symptoms are only seen when complications occurred such as bronchial or tracheal compression, dissection, rupture or thrombus formation causing pulmonary hypertension.  It can be treated conservatively or surgically if symptomatic or if the size is more than 6 cm. We reported a case of a left pulmonary artery aneurysm, which is an incidental finding in a patient who underwent a CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) for a suspected pulmonary artery embolism. A left pulmonary artery aneurysm was seen measuring about 4.2 cm (W) x 3.9 cm (CC), which extends into the proximal branch of the descending pulmonary artery.  Unfortunately, no further treatment was able to be given to the patient since the patient succumbed from sepsis shortly after the diagnosis.