A Rare Case of Ruptured Bronchial Artery Pseudoaneurysm and Its Nonsurgical Management With Interventional Techniques

Ruptured bronchial artery pseudoaneurysms with mediastinal hematoma are rare entities with a very limited number of published cases to date. The diagnosis of such cases can be difficult as the patient may present with symptoms mimicking other diseases, mainly mediastinal malignancy. A high degree of clinical suspicion and imaging techniques like contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) chest and computed tomography angiography (CTA) aids in the diagnosis. Under the lights of an interventional radiologist, an urgent endovascular approach is most commonly preferred for its nonsurgical management. We present a rare case of a 47-year-old male with no previous lung disease or trauma with dyspnea and sudden onset chest pain. A massive effusion was suspected on the right side. CECT chest and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) revealed a pseudoaneurysm of a bronchial vessel with associated mediastinal hematoma, collapse of basal right lower lobe, and collection in right pleural space. This patient was later successfully treated by endovascular embolization techniques. Bronchial artery pseudoaneurysm may be considered a remote possibility in the absence of trauma or other lung diseases that may present with a massive hemothorax or mediastinal hematoma. Although CECT can be useful, digital angiography is considered the gold standard. Early intervention with the endovascular approach is a commonly recommended technique.