Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 4, 2026

Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension and Assessment of Right Ventricular Function in the Piglet
Published on: November 4, 2015
Pulmonary vein stenosis mimicking chronic lung disease
S Chakrabarti1, S Tsao, J J Vettukattil
1Department of Paediatric Cardiology, Wessex Cardiothoracic Centre, Southampton General Hospital, UK.
Insights
Pulmonary vein stenosis, a rare disorder, can mimic chronic lung disease in infants. Early diagnosis via Doppler echocardiography is crucial for this potentially fatal condition.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Pulmonology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Recurrent respiratory symptoms and right heart enlargement in ex-premature infants often suggest chronic lung disease.
- Pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) is a rare, progressive disorder presenting with similar clinical manifestations.
Observation:
- A case study highlights PVS in an infant initially presumed to have chronic lung disease.
- Clinical presentation and routine echocardiography may overlook PVS due to its rarity and overlapping symptoms.
Findings:
- Doppler echocardiography successfully identified pulmonary vein stenosis in the reported case.
- This diagnostic modality is recommended for similar presentations to ensure timely diagnosis.
Implications:
- Delayed diagnosis of PVS can lead to a poor prognosis, often fatal if untreated.
- Increased awareness and targeted echocardiographic evaluation are vital for managing infants with suspected PVS.
Unlabelled:
The presence of recurrent respiratory symptoms and right heart enlargement in an ex-premature infant is suggestive of chronic lung disease. Pulmonary vein stenosis is a rare, progressive disorder that produces similar symptoms and signs. A case is reported in which pulmonary vein stenosis was revealed by Doppler echocardiography, and this application is recommended in similar cases. Pulmonary vein stenosis is an extremely rare and progressive disorder, which, if left untreated, is usually fatal. The possibility of this diagnosis may not be considered during clinical examination and may be overlooked during routine echocardiography.
Conclusion:
This report describes a patient with pulmonary vein stenosis in whom the diagnosis was delayed as she had symptoms and signs more commonly associated with chronic lung disease.
Related Concept Videos
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-II: Pathophysiology
Chronic Inflammation
Mitral Stenosis II: Clinical features and Diagnostic Tests
Pulmonary Embolism I: Introduction
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease III: Chronic Bronchitis Features
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease IV: Clinical Manifestations
Pulmonary Embolism I: Introduction

