Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection Coexisting with Lung Cancer: A Case Report and Review of Relevant Cases from the Literature

Ann Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2017 Feb 20;23(1):31-35. doi: 10.5761/atcs.cr.16-00110. Epub 2016 Jun 16.

Abstract

A 45-year-old man had an abnormal shadow in the right lung field on an annual screening chest X-ray. He was diagnosed with Stage IA (cT1bN0M0) lung cancer. Initially, we did not notice an anomalous vein on non-contrast computed tomography. However, we found that the right upper lobe bronchus branched from the lateral wall of the right main bronchial orifice, above the level of the common right upper lobe bronchus. Therefore, the bronchus was thought to be a tracheal bronchus. We carefully reevaluated the patient using three-dimensional computed tomography angiography. This technique showed that the anomalous right superior pulmonary vein drained into the azygos vein along the superior vena cava. These findings confirmed a partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection of the right upper lobe. We performed video-assisted thoracoscopic right upper lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection for definitive treatment for lung cancer and partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection. No hemodynamic problems occurred in the postoperative course.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / complications*
  • Adenocarcinoma / diagnostic imaging
  • Adenocarcinoma / surgery
  • Adenocarcinoma of Lung
  • Computed Tomography Angiography
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / complications*
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / surgery
  • Humans
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional
  • Incidental Findings
  • Lung Neoplasms / complications*
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung Neoplasms / surgery
  • Lymph Node Excision
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Phlebography / methods
  • Pneumonectomy
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Pulmonary Veins / abnormalities*
  • Pulmonary Veins / diagnostic imaging
  • Pulmonary Veins / surgery
  • Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted
  • Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted
  • Treatment Outcome