Pulmonary Artery Stenosis After an Orthotopic Heart Transplantation: A Case Report With Cardiac Imaging Findings and a Literature Review

Cureus. 2024 Apr 1;16(4):e57416. doi: 10.7759/cureus.57416. eCollection 2024 Apr.

Abstract

Pulmonary artery stenosis is a rare complication of heart transplantation. It is typically a congenital condition or can be secondary to rheumatic fever, systemic vasculitis like Behcet's disease, or Takayasu's arteritis. It can also occur as a rarity of a delayed complication post-heart transplant. In this report, we describe the imaging findings of pulmonary artery stenosis in a patient who underwent an orthotopic heart transplant more than 10 years prior. Dynamic cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), phase contrast imaging, and MR angiography in the management of pulmonary artery stenosis helped in heart and pulmonary circulation. Functional evaluation can be achieved with current multichannel transmit-receive coils. Cardiac gated pre- and dynamic contrast-enhanced MR was performed with phase-contrast imaging for further evaluation confirming the diagnosis of pulmonary artery stenosis.

Keywords: cardiac magnetic resonance imaging; mr pulmonary angiography; pulmonary artery hypertension; pulmonary artery stenosis; pulmonary artery velocity.

Publication types

  • Case Reports