Partial anomalous pulmonary venous return

Case contributed by Dachani Kansan Naider
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Patient presented to Emergency department with shortness of breath and had positive D-dimer.

Patient Data

Age: 70 years
Gender: Female

Adequate contrast opacification of the main pulmonary trunk.

No filling defect in main pulmonary arteries, segmental and subsegmental arteries to indicate presence of pulmonary embolism.

The left upper lobe pulmonary vein drains into the left brachiocephalic vein, reflecting partial anomalous pulmonary venous return.

Case Discussion

Patient who presented with shortness of breath and positive D-dimer, had CTPA to rule out pulmonary embolism was found to have an incidental finding of partial anomalous pulmonary venous return where the pulmonary vein of the left upper lobe drains into the left brachiocephalic vein.

This may have contributed to patient's presentation or might have been an incidental finding.

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