Multimodality imaging of anomalous pulmonary veins

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Congenital Heart Disease
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection (PAPVC) is a rare congenital anomaly.
• It involves abnormal drainage of pulmonary veins into the systemic venous circulation.
• Often presents with subtle signs, leading to diagnostic challenges.

Observation:

• A 65-year-old male presented with unexplained right ventricular enlargement.
• Initial transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) raised suspicion for PAPVC.
• Further investigation utilized multimodality cardiac imaging.

Findings:

• Cardiac MRI confirmed left-sided PAPVC.
• Multimodality imaging precisely delineated the anomalous venous connections.
• This case highlights the diagnostic utility of advanced imaging.

Implications:

• Accurate diagnosis of PAPVC is crucial for patient management.
• Multimodality imaging, especially cardiac MRI, is vital for anatomical characterization.
• Early and precise diagnosis can prevent complications associated with undiagnosed PAPVC.