Survival into sixth decade of untreated pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect and major aorto-pulmonary collaterals: a magnetic resonance imaging study

Abstract

A 56-year-old male with a history of untreated pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect diagnosed during childhood was referred to our institution for congestive heart failure. We describe the MR imaging findings that documented the presence of multiple aorto-pulmonary collaterals arising from the abdominal aorta and from the internal mammary artery supplying both pulmonary arteries. This is the oldest known surviving case documented in medical literature.