Unilateral Pulmonary Vein Atresia Initially Presenting as Interstitial Lung Disease in an Elderly Female: Serial Chest Radiograph Changes and Its Literature Review

Abstract

Unilateral pulmonary vein atresia (PVA) is a rare congenital cardiovascular anomaly occurring after the common pulmonary vein fails to incorporate into the left atrium. It is most commonly diagnosed in childhood, and diagnosis after reaching adulthood is extremely rare. Dyspnea on exertion and hemoptysis are common clinical features in adult PVA patients, whereas lung parenchymal abnormalities are indirect signs of PVA, which can manifest as interstitial lung disease. Herein, we present the case of a 62-year-old female diagnosed with unilateral PVA presenting as unilateral interstitial lung disease and report the changes in her chest radiographs over 12 years.

Keywords

• pulmonary vein
• computed tomography
• x-ray
• interstitial lung disease