Anomalous pulmonary vein detected using three-dimensional computed tomography in a patient with lung cancer undergoing thoracoscopic lobectomy

Few clinicians are familiar with the anatomy of anomalous pulmonary veins, and studies reporting patients who required right lower lobectomy for lung cancer and who had anomalies of the middle and lower pulmonary veins are even rarer. This report describes the case of a lung cancer patient who had an anomalous lateral part of the middle lobe vein (V4) draining into the right inferior pulmonary vein, which was confirmed by three-dimensional 64-row multidetector computed axial tomography (3D-MDCT) angiography. She was then successfully treated with video-assisted thoracic surgery. The preoperative 3D imaging of the pulmonary vein and artery allowed us to comprehend fully the patient's vascular anatomy before the operation. Thus, we recommend preoperative 3D-MDCT angiography for patients with lung cancer undergoing thoracic surgery, especially video-assisted thoracic surgery.     

Thoracoscopic surgery for intralobar pulmonary sequestration.

A 47-year-old male with intralobar pulmonary sequestration successfully treated by thoracoscopic surgery was reported. Preoperative selective angiography revealed two aberrant arteries originating from the left infraphrenic artery. Under thoracoscopy, adhesive tissues around the sequestered lung were dissected, aberrant arteries were divided and the sequestered lung was resected. We considered that preoperative detailed analysis of the aberrant artery was very important to safely perform thoracoscopic procedures for pulmonary sequestration.     

Intrapulmonary sequestration operated by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomy; report of a case

Pulmonary sequestration is a rare malformation of the respiratory tract. We here report an adult case of intralobar pulmonary sequestration with aberrant artery of the right lower lobe. A 20-year-old man admitted to our hospital with a chest discomfort. Chest computed tomography (CT), angiography, and scintigraphy showed abnormal findings of the right lower lobe with an aberrant artery. Under the diagnosis of pulmonary sequestration, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy was performed. VATS is useful for the operation of pulmonary sequestration.     

Intralobar pulmonary sequestration with high level of serum CEA; report of a case

We reported a case of intralobar pulmonary sequestration with a high level of the serum CEA. A 53-year-old woman whose chief complaint was cough was admitted to our hospital. Enhanced chest computed tomography (CT) revealed the mass in the left lower lung, lymph-nodes swelling, and the aberrant artery. Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) conformed the aberrant artery from the descending aorta. The level of serum CEA elevated at 9.6 ng/ml. Left lower lobectomy was performed. A diagnosis of intralobar pulmonary sequestration (Pryce type II) was established in this case. Histopathologically, the peribronchial epithelial cells in pulmonary sequestration showed weak positive for anti-CEA monoclonal antibody. Postoperative course was uneventful and the serum CEA level was 3.5 ng/ml in the normal range at the postoperative 17th day.     

Twisted cystic artery disclosed by 3-dimensional computed tomography angiography for torsion of the gallbladder

Torsion of the gallbladder is a rare condition that most commonly affects elderly women. The symptoms of torsion mimic acute cholecystitis, but several clinical features and imaging findings can be useful for distinguishing it from typical acute cholecystitis. However, preoperative identification remains difficult. Three-dimensional angiography reconstructed by preoperative multidetector row computed tomography is useful for definitive diagnosis of torsion of the gallbladder. Demonstration of a twisted cystic artery by 3-dimensional computed tomography angiography represents specific and direct evidence of this condition, which allows immediate diagnosis and treatment.     

Three-dimensional computed tomography for lung cancer in a patient with three right vein ostia

Some variations in pulmonary vein anatomy can have serious consequences in patients undergoing lung surgery, but clinicians rarely encounter patients with these variations. We report here a thoracoscopic lobectomy for right lung cancer in a patient with three right vein ostia. Preoperative review of three-dimensional 64-row multidetector computed tomography (3D-MDCT) of the patient showed a variation that was not confirmed in transverse plane computed tomography films. However, the variant anomaly was confirmed during thoracoscopic right lower lobectomy. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 10. Preoperative 3D-MDCT of the pulmonary vein produced a precise preoperative simulation for the surgeon and clearly showed the orientation of the patient’s vascular variant during surgery. This imaging technology contributes to safer thoracic surgery, especially thoracoscopic surgery.     

Intrapulmonary sequestration with arterial supply from the left internal thoracic artery: a case report.

Pulmonary sequestration is uncommon in the upper lobe. Its arterial supply from the internal thoracic artery is very rare. Reported here is a case of a 20-year-old male whose presenting symptom was recurrent pneumonia. Helical computed tomography (CT) and three-dimensional reconstruction images showed that aberrant arteries arising from the left internal thoracic artery were supplying the area of sequestration and draining into the pulmonary vein. Selective intra-arterial digital substraction angiogram also showed left internal thoracic artery supplying the area of the sequestration. Helical three-dimensional CT is noninvasive and provides as accurate three-dimensional information of the aberrant vascular supply in intrapulmonary sequestration as the angiography.     

Thoracoscopic lobectomy for treating cancer in a patient with an unusual vein anomaly

Various anatomical variants in pulmonary veins can have a serious effect on patients undergoing lung surgery. We present a case of a patient with an unusual pulmonary vein variation. Preoperative review of the patient's three-dimensional 64-row multidetector computed tomography imaging allowed us precise simulation and good orientation of the patient's vascular variant anatomy during surgery. Upper lobectomy through thoracoscopic approach was performed successfully in the case where the middle lobe vein might have been divided without preoperative anatomical evaluation by 3D CT images.     

Utility of preoperative visualization for intrapulmonary sequestration in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery

We herein report the case of a 59-year-old male suffering from severe cough. The patient had previously experienced several episodes of pneumonia beginning in childhood. A three dimensional multidetector computed tomography (3D-MDCT) scan revealed pulmonary sequestration with a left gastric artery blood supply, and clearly revealed the other pulmonary vessels. The patient underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, in which the anomalous tissue was resected safely. Preoperative visualization of the vessels may be helpful for the safe treatment of a pulmonary sequestration, and the VATS approach is a suitable operation under corrective surgical planning.     

Detection of coronary artery disease in acute aortic dissection: the efficacy of 64-row multidetector computed tomography

We herein describe a case with an acute aortic dissection, whose atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD) could be accurately detected using a preoperative 64-row multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). Emergency surgery including a coronary artery bypass grafting and a total arch replacement were successfully performed without causing perioperative myocardial infarction. MDCT coronary angiography is a safe and noninvasive examination, therefore, we believe that MDCT coronary angiography should become a routine preoperative examination for patients with an acute aortic dissection in order to detect the presence of CAD.     

Endovascular treatment of symptomatic pulmonary sequestration

Pulmonary sequestration is a rare congenital malformation whose origin is bronchial and arterial simultaneously and its vascularization comes from an anomalous systemic artery. Its clinical presentation includes recurrent pneumopathy in the same anatomic location of the lung and difficult to resolve or recurrent lung abscess. It is usually treated with antibiotherapy and eventual surgical resection. A 23-year-old woman with history of recurrent respiratory infections and three episodes of hemoptysis was admitted at the hospital. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging confirmed diagnosis of pulmonary sequestration. The angiographic study showed the presence of three inflow arteries arising from the thoracic aorta (T10) and supplying the abnormal lung parenchyma at the base of the left hemithorax. The patient underwent endovascular treatment consisting of exclusion of the inflow vessels with Amplatzer occlusive devices and coils. Subsequent computed tomography angiogram confirmed complete infarction of the sequestration. At 7 months, the patient presented with a new episode of bronchial infection. Repeated angiography showed persistence of intermediate small nutrient branches that were treated with coil embolization. The patient is symptom-free at 41 months after this secondary procedure. Endovascular treatment of pulmonary sequestration, with selective embolization of the inflow arteries, is a very attractive minimally invasive therapeutic option, as compared with conventional surgery, and potentially less prone to associated complications.     

Thoracoscopic segmentectomy: one vessel may hide a second one

We report the case of an asymptomatic neonate prenatally diagnosed with a left basal pulmonary sequestration. The preoperative chest computed tomography with contrast showed 2 aberrant arteries arising from the distal thoracic aorta and supplying the intralobar left inferior lung malformation. Strategy and treatment by thoracoscopic segmentectomy are presented.     

Video-assisted thoracoscopic wedge resection for pulmonary sequestration

A 60-year-old woman underwent a video-assisted thoracoscopic wedge resection of intralobar pulmonary sequestration instead of a lobotomy because the lesion was localized in the right basal segment. Preoperative 3-dimensional computed tomography was useful for identifying an aberrant artery arising from the thoracic aorta and distributing to the lesion. A successful outcome more than 4 years after the surgery indicates that a wedge resection under video-assisted thoracoscopy may prove to be a therapeutic option for localized pulmonary sequestration.     

Coil embolization to treat pulmonary sequestration in the right upper lobe

Although there have been a few case reports of pulmonary sequestration, it is primarily located in the lower lobe and left lung, rarely in the right upper lobe. Here, we report a case presented with haemoptysis. Computed tomography images revealed flake ground-glass shadows in the right upper lobe. Computed tomography angiography demonstrated an artery supplied the affected lesions stemmed from the aortic arch. We diagnosed and treated her with bronchial artery angiography with coil embolization. No complications were found after operation until now. Thus, CTA could help identify the abnormal blood vessels, and interventional therapy may be an effective alternative to surgery of pulmonary sequestration.     

Video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy in the treatment of intralobar pulmonary sequestration

Pulmonary sequestration is a congenital malformation characterised by cystic, non-functioning embryonic lung tissue with vascularisation of an abnormal systemic artery. They are classified as intralobar (75%) and extralobar (25%) and are more common in the left lung and lower lobes (60-90%). We report two cases of intralobar pulmonary sequestration located in the lower lobe of the left lung which were subjected to video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Both patients had recurrent infections for which, after performing imaging tests, they were diagnosed with intralobar pulmonary sequestration in the left lower lobe, with an afferent arterial branch to the malformation from the aorta. A lower lobectomy was performed by video-assisted surgery, dividing the aberrant aortic artery with an endostapler. A single thoracic chest tube was placed and removed on postoperative day 2 and the patients were discharged on the same day. In both cases, the pathology examination revealed intralobar pulmonary sequestration. Pulmonary sequestrations are uncommon malformations that can be operated on using minimally invasive techniques, thereby permitting early discharge and a low rate of complications.     

Use of three-dimensional computed tomographic angiography of pulmonary vessels for lung resections

BACKGROUND: Identification and appropriate treatment of the pulmonary artery (PA) is a key to successful anatomic resection of the lung. Preoperative identification of branching pattern of the PA seems to make pulmonary resection easier and safer especially when there is severe adhesion or incomplete fissure between the lobes. With the development of the multidetector row spiral computed tomography (MDCT), three-dimensional (3D) CT angiography can be obtained easily and can provide very useful information about various organs. We studied the usefulness of 3D-CT pulmonary angiography (3D-CTPA) in evaluating the PA branching pattern before anatomic pulmonary resection. METHODS: Fourteen patients with primary lung cancer undergoing anatomic pulmonary resections were the subjects of this study. The 3D-CTPA images were obtained using MDCT. The obtained images of the PA branching pattern were compared with intraoperative findings in each case at the time of thoracotomy. RESULTS: MDCT scanning required approximately 15 seconds per patient during a single respiratory pause and the 3D images were processed within 10 minutes after scannning. According to intraoperative findings, 98% (84 of 86) of PA branches were revealed to be successfully identified on preoperative 3D-CTPA. Two missed branches on 3D-CTPA were small vessels, which were less than 1.5 mm in actual diameter. Pulmonary vessels were clearly identified even when contrast medium was not administered intravenously. CONCLUSIONS: Obtaining 3D-CTPA using MDCT is noninvasive yet it provides precise preoperative information regarding pulmonary vessels. This technique is a far less invasive and an easier investigation than conventional pulmonary angiography. The 3D-CTPA navigation may have the potential to increase the safety of surgical procedure and to reduce surgical morbidity in anatomic lung resection.     

Assessment of minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass grafting of the left internal thoracic artery by means of magnetic resonance imaging

OBJECTIVES: We sought to evaluate graft patency, flow, and flow reserve in patients with minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass surgery of internal thoracic artery grafts by a combined magnetic resonance protocol with a phase-contrast technique and magnetic resonance angiography. METHODS: At 1.5 T (Magnetom Sonata, Siemens), 30 symptomatic patients with 30 left internal thoracic artery grafts were examined 6 years after minimally invasive surgical intervention. Navigator-gated magnetic resonance angiography and contrast-enhanced FLASH-3D magnetic resonance angiography (0.2 mmol gadopentate-diethylene triamine pentetic acid [Gd-DTPA]/kg body weight) was used to assess bypass patency. Phase-contrast flow measurements with retrospective gating were performed in the internal thoracic artery grafts at rest and after stress induction with dipyridamole (0.57 mg/kg body weight). Graft patency was evaluated by means of multidetector computed tomography (Sensation 16, Siemens). RESULTS: Internal thoracic artery grafts were occluded in 5 of 30 patients. In 6 patients the anastomosis to the left anterior descending artery was highly stenotic (>70 % ) at multidetector computed tomography. In patients with regular grafts (multidetector computed tomography), a significant improvement of graft flow ( P < .001) and diastolic/systolic peak velocity ratio ( P < .001) after stress induction was detected. Magnetic resonance angiography combined with flow reserve measurements could differentiate between occluded-stenotic and regular minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass grafts. CONCLUSIONS: Magnetic resonance imaging allows a combined assessment of bypass patency and flow with flow reserve in patients after the minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass operation. The protocol of this study might be applicable for the evaluation of graft status in symptomatic patients after revascularization.     

Thoracoscopic resection of pulmonary sequestration with carbon dioxide insufflation and indocyanine green

We encountered a rare case of pulmonary sequestration supplied from the right renal artery, which was resected by video-assisted thoracic surgery with carbon dioxide insufflation and indocyanine green-guided technique. A 41-year-old woman with intralobar pulmonary sequestration supplied from the right renal artery was referred to our department. At the time of surgery, we used carbon dioxide insufflation to improve the manoeuvrable workspace for shutting off aberrant arteries and indocyanine green fluorescence guidance to differentiate the boundary of the sequestered lung from the normal lung. These procedures helped in the efficient resection of the lesion.     

Assessment of aortic pathology and peripheral arterial disease using multidetector computed tomographic angiography

The development of multidetector computed tomography represents a remarkable diagnostic advancement because this imaging modality has been widely used in the evaluation of the cardiovascular system. With scanner-adjusted image acquisition and contrast medium administration, multidetector computed tomographic angiography provides a cost-effective and accurate imaging assessment in patients with aortic pathologies or peripheral arterial occlusive disease. Multidetector computed tomographic angiography is associated with several advantages, including high image spatial resolution and rapid imaging acquisition speed. This diagnostic methodology allows accurate detection of a variety of intravascular lesions in the carotid artery, thoracic and abdominal aorta, renal arteries, and peripheral arterial systems. This article provides an overview of multidetector computed tomographic angiography in the assessment of arterial disease and reviews current literature about this diagnostic technology in the evaluation of aortic and peripheral arterial pathologies.     

Anomalous systemic arterial supply to the basal segments of the lung with three aberrant arteries

We report a case of anomalous systemic arterial supply with three aberrant arteries supplying the basal segments of the right lung. There is no published report of a patient of anomalous systemic arterial supply to the basal segments with three aberrant arteries. Transverse computed tomography (CT) showed one aberrant artery in the right lower lobe, and preoperative three-dimensional CT showed three aberrant arteries, which provided detailed information and assisted in the thoracoscopic surgery. The patient underwent a complete thoracoscopic right lower lobectomy.