Not pulmonary embolism!

Conn Med. 2009 May;73(5):277-80.

Abstract

A 62-year-old asymptomatic woman was found to have a left pulmonary artery filling defect on a contrast computerized tomography scan of the chest. Workup revealed a diagnosis of left pulmonary artery sarcoma. Pulmonary artery sarcomas are rare tumors with poor prognosis. A high index of clinical suspicion is required to make a timely diagnosis and avoid inappropriate treatment for pulmonary embolism.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Pneumonectomy
  • Pulmonary Artery* / surgery
  • Pulmonary Embolism / diagnosis*
  • Sarcoma / diagnosis*
  • Sarcoma / physiopathology
  • Sarcoma / surgery
  • Vascular Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Vascular Neoplasms / physiopathology
  • Vascular Neoplasms / surgery
  • Ventilation-Perfusion Ratio