Three-dimensional computed tomography for a mediastinal basal pulmonary artery.

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Surgery
• Thoracic Oncology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Anatomic variations of the pulmonary artery pose risks during pulmonary artery resection, potentially leading to vessel injury.
• Accurate preoperative identification of these variations is essential for preventing surgical complications.

Observation:

• A case of lung cancer requiring left lower lobectomy is presented.
• The patient had a rare mediastinal lingular and basal pulmonary artery variation, detected preoperatively using 3D CT.
• This variation was confirmed and carefully managed during thoracoscopic surgery.

Findings:

• The mediastinal basal pulmonary arteries were identified through careful dissection during thoracoscopic surgery.
• The pulmonary arteries were successfully divided, and the left lower lobectomy was completed without complications.
• The rare left pulmonary artery variation was safely managed due to preoperative detection.

Implications:

• Preoperative detection of rare pulmonary artery variations using 3D CT is vital for ensuring surgical safety during lobectomy.
• This case highlights the importance of advanced imaging in thoracic surgery for managing complex anatomy.
• Identifying and understanding such variations can improve surgical planning and patient outcomes in lung cancer treatment.