Angiographic Findings of an Isolated Meandering Pulmonary Vein: A Case Report

Abstract

A meandering pulmonary vein (MPV) is a rare pulmonary vascular anomaly characterized by an abnormal course of the pulmonary vein draining into the left atrium. We report the case of a 55-year-old female who was diagnosed with a right MPV on pulmonary angiography. Enhanced chest CT revealed a vascular structure with an abnormal course that drained into the right superior pulmonary vein in the right upper lobe, which resembled a pulmonary arteriovenous malformation (AVM). Pulmonary angiography performed to discriminate between an MPV and pulmonary AVM showed no feeding artery, normal parenchymal staining, and drainage to the left atrium via the culprit vessel. Thus, the patient was diagnosed with MPV. When an MPV is difficult to differentiate from other vascular anomalies on enhanced chest CT, pulmonary angiography can be helpful. By recognizing the angiographic findings of an MPV, unnecessary treatment can be prevented.

Keywords

• pulmonary veins
• congenital abnormalities
• angiography
• arteriovenous malformation
• scimitar syndrome