[Congenital pulmonary arteriovenous fistula. A report of 8 cases]

In 8 cases of A-V fistula the clinical manifestations were found to be exertional cyanosis, dyspnea and digital clubbing. Those patients might also have chest pain, tachycardia, telangiectases, polycythemia and severe hypoxemia. Murmur might be found over the surface area of the lesion. Chest X-ray examination revealed solitary circumscribed lesion in five of them and multiple lesions in two. X-ray findings were similar to bronchiectasis in one. The diagnosis and differential diagnosis of this lesion were discussed. Lung scan with technetium macroaggregated albumin was used to detect the A-V fistulae. Six cases were operated on and successful resections of the lesions were carried out in 4. One died right after the operation. In one case the larger fistula was resected, but some smaller fistulae remained and finally therapeutic embolization was carried out. No complication was encountered.