Acquired traumatic pulmonary arteriovenous fistula: case report

Post-traumatic pulmonary arteriovenous fistula, a rare entity, was treated in a 35-year-old HIV-positive man by transcatheter embolization. When seen 4 months later, the patient had florid Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Generally, pulmonary angiography demonstrates such fistulae when they are not visible on chest roentgenograms. This diagnosis should be considered in patients with penetrating chest trauma when suggestive clinical or radiologic signs are present.