Pulmonary vein occlusion and veno-occlusive disease in a bilateral lung transplant patient: A case report

A pulmonary vein occlusion and biopsy proven pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD) and hemangiomatosis is found in a bilateral lung transplant patient. A 61-year-old male presents with dyspnea and chest pain with minimal exertion at routine follow up on post-transplant day of 50. Chest CT demonstrates new occlusion of bilateral superior pulmonary veins and diffuse pulmonary edema. Pulmonary vein occlusion is confirmed by trans-esophageal echocardiogram, and PVOD and hemangiomatosis is corroborated with lung biopsy. Normal pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) and reduced DL_CO are also consistent with PVOD. Vigilant evaluation of large pulmonary venous thrombus is as important as of arterial thrombus in a postsurgical transplant status. A dedicated protocol of pulmonary venous phase scan would be beneficial to identify subtle pulmonary venous abnormalities. Although PVOD/PCH is normally considered in patients with nonspecific PAH symptoms, lacking of direct manifestation of PAH should not dismiss the diagnosis of PVOD/PCH, particularly in lung transplant individuals with large pulmonary vein occlusion, progressive respiratory symptoms, DLCO abnormalities, and pulmonary congestion since it may represent a wide spectrum of occlusive vascular disease.