Pulmonary artery (PA) aneurysms are uncommon and often diagnosed post-mortem. Theyare characterized by a PA/aorta diameter ratio greater than 2 on transthoracic echocardiographyor a pulmonary artery diameter greater than 4 or 5 cm on computed tomography. The mostcommon conditions associated with pulmonary artery aneurysm are congenital heart defectswith left-to-right shunts and pulmonic valve abnormalities. There are also numerous causesof acquired pulmonary artery aneurysms, including infection, vasculitis, pulmonary arterialhypertension, trauma, neoplasm and pulmonary embolism. Symptoms of PA aneurysm areusually non-specific, and physical examination findings are variable depending on the underlyingcause. Work-up includes various imaging modalities, transthoracic echocardiography, and rightheart catheterization. The gold standard treatment is surgery, but in select patients, conservativemanagement with close monitoring can be pursued.
Pulmonary artery aneurysm associated with a nonstenotic bicuspid pulmonic valve: A role for genetics?
