Atherosclerosis of aberrant arteries from the left gastric artery into the right intralobar pulmonary sequestration complicated by mycobacterial epithelioid cell granuloma

Cardiovasc Pathol. 2017 Jan-Feb:26:4-6. doi: 10.1016/j.carpath.2016.09.007. Epub 2016 Oct 5.

Abstract

Vascular changes observed in intralobar pulmonary sequestration (PS) have been reported to be similar to those observed in pulmonary hypertension (PH). However, atherosclerosis in the pulmonary artery, which is one of the characteristic arterial changes of PH, has scarcely been reported in PS. Here, we report this unique manifestation in a 66-year-old man, in whom an intralobar PS fed by an aberrant artery branching from the left gastric artery had been identified 10 years earlier, and who was diagnosed with pneumonia after having symptoms of fever and cough. He was treated by lobectomy of the lower lobe of his right lung. Subsequently, a culture test of the fluid from the sequestrated lung was performed, which identified Mycobacterium avium. Subsequent pathological examination of the sequestrated lung demonstrated multiple epithelioid cell granulomas. Furthermore, atherosclerosis of the aberrant artery was also found, which may be associated with his advanced age. This is an extremely rare case of right intralobar PS supplied by aberrant artery with atherosclerosis originating from left gastric artery passing over the diaphragm.

Keywords: Atherosclerosis; Epithelioid cell granuloma; Left gastric artery; Mycobacterium avium; Pulmonary hypertension; Pulmonary sequestration.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Atherosclerosis / microbiology
  • Atherosclerosis / pathology*
  • Bronchopulmonary Sequestration / microbiology
  • Bronchopulmonary Sequestration / pathology*
  • Epithelioid Cells / pathology
  • Granuloma / microbiology
  • Granuloma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection / complications*
  • Pulmonary Artery / pathology*