Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a new imaging technique capable of obtaining high-resolution intravascular images and has been used in interventional cardiology. However, an application of OCT in pulmonary arteries had seldom been documented. In this case, OCT imaging is performed in peripheral pulmonary arteries and shows mural red thrombi. Subsequently, the red thrombi are aspirated and confirmed by a histological examination. These findings suggest that OCT may be a useful tool to depict peripheral pulmonary artery thrombi.
Adult ; Angiography ; Humans ; Male ; Pulmonary Artery/*pathology/radiography ; Pulmonary Embolism/*diagnosis ; Tomography, Optical Coherence/*methods ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: To evaluate the low attenuation of mosaic pattern in pulmonary embolism, as observed on HRCT, and to correlate the findings with the pathologic features of resected lung. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using permanent embolic materials, pulmonary embolism was induced in eight Yorkshire pigs. Pre-and post-embolic pulmonary angiography was performed and after 6 weeks, the incidence and pattern of parenchymal change in low attenuation (mosaic pattern), as seen on HRCT, was evaluated. The animals were then sacrified and contact radiography of the lung was performed. Thirty-eight segments of pathology were taken from the area in which the presence of embolism had been suggested. Pathologic and HRCT findings were then correlated. RESULTS: On HRCT, low attenuation was seen in 23 of 36 segments (64%) and showed variable patterns : crescent peripheral hyperlucency (61%, n=14), heterogeneous mottled hyperlucency (17%, n=4), lobular hyperlucency (13%, n=3), and homogeneous segmental hyperlucency (9%, n=2). Parenchymal low attenuation was seen on HRCT in 10 of 11 segments (91%) in which large segmental arterial occlusion occurred, and in 3 of 16 segments (19%) in which there was small segmental arterial occlusion. Abnormal pathologic findings were pulmonary congestion, dilatation of pulmonary arteries, interlobular septal thickening, and thrombus formation. Among the 38 pathologic segmental specimens, 29 were from the area in which HRCT findings were positive, and in which pulmonary embolism subsequently occurred. In only four of nine segments (44%) in the area in which HRCT fingings were negative was pulmonary embolism subsequently. CONCLUSION: HRCT findings of pulmonary embolism at six weeks after embolization showed variable patterns of low attenuation, diminished diameter of pulmonary arteries, and normal diameter of bronchi. In cases with large segmental arterial occlusion, the finding of low attenuation was more common ; this may be due to reduced blood flow to the embolic area, in combination with bronchiolar spasm. For the early diagnosis of pulmonary embolism, these findings may be useful.
Angiography ; Animals ; Bronchi ; Dilatation ; Early Diagnosis ; Embolism ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Incidence ; Lung ; Pathology ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Embolism* ; Radiography ; Spasm ; Swine ; Thrombosis

No abstract available.
Coronary Thrombosis/*diagnosis/radiography ; Dizziness/etiology ; Heart Atria ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Embolism/diagnosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Acute cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection occurs commonly in immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients, but is usually asymptomatic in the latter. Vascular events associated with acute CMV infection have been described, but are rare. Hence, such events are rarely reported in the literature. We report a case of pulmonary embolism secondary to acute CMV colitis in an immunocompetent 78-year-old man. The patient presented with fever and diarrhea. Colonic ulcers were diagnosed based on colonoscopy findings, and CMV was the proven etiology on pathological examination. The patient subsequently experienced acute respiratory failure. Pulmonary embolism was diagnosed based on the chest radiography and computed tomography findings. A diagnosis of acute CMV colitis complicated by pulmonary embolism was made. The patient was successfully treated with intravenous administration of unfractionated heparin and intravenous ganciclovir.
Administration, Intravenous ; Aged ; Colitis* ; Colon ; Colonoscopy ; Cytomegalovirus* ; Diagnosis ; Diarrhea ; Fever ; Ganciclovir ; Heparin ; Humans ; Pulmonary Embolism* ; Radiography ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Thorax ; Ulcer

PURPOSE: Hereditary thrombophilia (HT) is a major risk factor for idiopathic pulmonary embolism (iPE) and shows different prevalence among ethnic groups. The prevalence and clinical characteristics of HT in Korean patients with iPE were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with PE on computed tomography (CT) scan were recruited, and those with malignancy were excluded. Patients were divided into iPE and provoked PE (pPE) groups. The presence of HT in the iPE group was assessed by DNA sequencing of the corresponding gene in patients who had low levels of natural anticoagulants. The clinical characteristics of iPE with HT (iPE/HT+) were compared with those of iPE without HT (iPE/HT-) and pPE. RESULTS: Out of 161 patients, 84 patients had iPE and 77 patients had pPE. Among 54 patients in the iPE group whose coagulation profiles were tested, 28 patients were diagnosed with HT (51.9%; 28/54). Compared with the iPE/HT- and pPE groups, the iPE/HT+ group showed the highest proportion of male patients (71.4%; p<0.001); the youngest mean age (44+/-14 years; p<0.001); and the highest frequencies for history of venous thromboembolism (64.3%; p<0.001), concurrent deep vein thrombosis (75.0%; p=0.021), and adverse clinical outcomes (42.9%, p<0.001). Protein C deficiency was the most common HT. On molecular genetic tests, causative mutation was identified in 13 patients. CONCLUSION: In this study of Korean patients, about half of the patients with iPE had HT. Patients with iPE and HT were mostly young males with deep venous thrombosis (DVT), previous venous thromboembolism (VTE), and frequent adverse clinical outcomes. Therefore, Korean patients with iPE should be tested for HT.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Pulmonary Embolism/diagnosis/genetics/*radiography ; Thrombophilia/diagnosis/genetics/*radiography ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) are rare but significantly imperative in inducing chronic pulmonary hypertension. Clinically, it is difficult to distinguish between IPAH and CTEPH. However, the treatment of pulmonary hypertension is different depending on the disease. The present study was performed to analyze the similarities and differences in clinical features between IPAH and CTEPH. METHODS: During a nine-year period, thirty-three patients with IPAH and twenty-two patients with CTEPH were enrolled. Symptoms, physical findings, chest radiograph, electrocardiograph, pulmonary function test, echocardiograph, perfusion lung scan, right heart catheterization results were analyzed between both the groups. RESULTS: The median age of IPAH group was 33 (6~70) years that was lower than that (52(27~80) years) of CTEPH group. Amongst the IPAH patients, there was female predominance (76 %) and there was no sex difference between the patients with CTEPH. Both the groups exhibited similarity in the results of chest radiograph, electrocardiograph, pulmonary function test, and echocardiograph. In the perfusion lung scan, all IPAH patients exhibited findings with normal (28%) or low probability (72%) of pulmonary embolism and all CTEPH patients exhibited findings with high probability of pulmonary embolism. CONCLUSION: Although IPAH and CTEPH bear similarities in terms of symptoms, physical signs and general investigation results, there were differences in age distribution, sex predominance and results of perfusion lung scan.
Age Distribution ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Hypertension, Pulmonary* ; Lung ; Perfusion ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Sex Characteristics

Protein C is an important physiological anticoagulant factor. Protein C deficiency has been linked to venous thrombosis at unusual sites, including the cerebral and mesenteric veins. Hereditary protein C deficiency is inherited primarily as an autosomal dominant trait with incomplete penetrance. Protein C and S deficiencies are known to increase the risk of venous thrombosis and pulmonary thromboembolism. Testing for protein C levels and function is necessary for the detection of both type I and type II protein C deficiency. In this article, we report a case of pulmonary embolism and mesentery ischemia due to type 1 protein C deficiency.
Colonoscopy ; Humans ; Ischemia/*diagnosis/etiology ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Male ; Mesenteric Veins ; Middle Aged ; Protein C Deficiency/*complications/genetics ; Pulmonary Embolism/*diagnosis/etiology/radiography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Pulmonary tumor embolism is commonly discovered at autopsy, but is rarely suspected ante-mortem. Microangiopathy is an uncommon and distinct form of simple tumor pulmonary embolism. Here, we present a 52-year-old male with tumor thrombotic microangiopathy and pulmonary infarction, which might have originated from intraductal papillary mucinous tumor of the pancreas. Multiple wedge-shaped consolidations were found initially and aggravated with cavitation. These CT features of pulmonary infarction were pathologically confirmed to result from pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy.
Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous/pathology/radiography ; Humans ; Lung/pathology/*radiography ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology/radiography ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreas/pathology ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/*complications/pathology ; Papilloma, Intraductal/pathology/radiography ; Pulmonary Embolism/pathology/*radiography ; Pulmonary Infarction/pathology/*radiography ; Thrombotic Microangiopathies/diagnosis/*radiography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) is a rare malignant soft-tissue neoplasm of unknown histogenesis. The two main sites of occurrence are the lower extremities in adults and the head and neck in children. We report the first case of pleural ASPS occurring in a 58-yr-old man who presented with progressive dyspnea. A computed tomographic scan of the thorax revealed a large enhancing pleural mass with pleural effusion in the left hemithorax. Wide excision of the pleural mass was performed. Histologically, the tumor consisted of organoid nests of large polygonal cells, the cytoplasm of which had eosinophilic and D-PAS positive granules. Immunohistochemical staining showed that the tumor cell nuclei were positive for transcription factor 3 (TFE3). The pleural ASPS with multiple bone metastases recurred 1 yr after surgery and the patient died of acute pulmonary embolism 1.5 yr after diagnosis.
Bone Neoplasms/diagnosis/secondary ; Dyspnea/etiology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pleura/physiopathology ; Positron-Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography ; Pulmonary Embolism/diagnosis ; Sarcoma, Alveolar Soft Part/*diagnosis/pathology/radiography ; Soft Tissue Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology/radiography ; Transcription Factor 3/metabolism

To report a non-fatal case of reperfusion pulmonary edema (RPE) after the removal of a hepatocellular carcinoma embolus, which had caused an acute obstruction of the tricuspid valve and pulmonary vasculature during a hepatic lobectomy. Pulmonary embolism caused by hepatocellular carcinoma embolus is extremely rare, and, in the present case, it was associated with unusual clinical features. A 69-year-old ASA II woman with hepatocellular carcinoma was presented for an elective left hepatic lobectomy. During the surgery, the tumor embolus was dislodged from the interior of the lumen of the inferior vena cava (IVC), which then drifted into the tricuspid valve area and pulmonary vasculature. The patient showed the specific signs of acute pulmonary embolism, such as a reduction in end-tidal carbon dioxide, an increase in central venous pressure, and a decrease in arterial pressure. The patient exhibited the symptoms for about 10 minutes. After this period, however, cardiovascular variables became relatively stable, even during a mechanical obstruction due to cross-clamping the pulmonary artery for embolectomy. After several hours of pulmonary embolectomy, the patient experienced an episode of RPE. The ventilatory supports for the treatment of RPE were successful, and the patient recovered without any complications. The patient's case in the present study demonstrates that pulmonary embolism may occur as a result of a hepatocellular carcinoma extending into the IVC during operative management. The anesthesiologist should be careful of the possibilities of RPE after removal of the tumor embolus.
Vena Cava, Inferior ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Time Factors ; Reperfusion ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Pulmonary Embolism/diagnosis/radiography ; Pulmonary Edema ; Liver Neoplasms/*pathology ; Liver/pathology ; Humans ; Female ; Edema ; Cardiovascular System ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*pathology ; Aged