Lung Infarction due to Pulmonary Vein Stenosis after Ablation Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation Misdiagnosed as Organizing Pneumonia: Sequential Changes on CT in Two Cases

Korean J Radiol. 2015 Jul-Aug;16(4):942-6. doi: 10.3348/kjr.2015.16.4.942. Epub 2015 Jul 1.

Abstract

Pulmonary vein (PV) stenosis is a complication of ablation therapy for arrhythmias. We report two cases with chronic lung parenchymal abnormalities showing no improvement and waxing and waning features, which were initially diagnosed as nonspecific pneumonias, and finally confirmed as PV stenosis. When a patient presents for nonspecific respiratory symptoms without evidence of infection after ablation therapy and image findings show chronic and repetitive parenchymal abnormalities confined in localized portion, the possibility of PV stenosis should be considered.

Keywords: Complications; Pulmonary vein stenosis; Pulmonary venous infarction; Radiofrequency ablation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Atrial Fibrillation / surgery
  • Catheter Ablation / adverse effects*
  • Catheter Ablation / methods
  • Constriction, Pathologic / diagnosis
  • Constriction, Pathologic / diagnostic imaging*
  • Diagnostic Errors*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung / surgery
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pneumonia / diagnosis
  • Pulmonary Infarction / diagnostic imaging*
  • Pulmonary Infarction / pathology
  • Pulmonary Veins / diagnostic imaging
  • Pulmonary Veins / physiopathology
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / adverse effects
  • Vascular Diseases / physiopathology