Meandering pulmonary veins: Two case reports

Medicine (Baltimore). 2020 Apr;99(16):e19815. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000019815.

Abstract

Rationale: Meandering pulmonary vein is a rare congenital pulmonary vascular anomaly. It presents unilateral single pulmonary vein that takes a circuitous route in the lung and drains normally into the left atrium. Most cases of meandering pulmonary vein have been reported to be right-sided. A few of them coincided with features of scimitar syndrome.

Patient concerns: A 71-year-old woman and a 20-year-old man presented with incidentally found abnormal findings on chest radiographs.

Diagnosis: Through multi-detector chest computed tomography, the 71-year-old woman was diagnosed as left-sided meandering pulmonary vein without any other anomalies while the 20-year-old man was diagnosed as having right-sided meandering pulmonary vein with features of scimitar syndrome.

Interventions: Specific intervention was not performed for either patient.

Outcomes: These patients were reassured and discharged. They are doing well without any respiratory symptoms.

Lessons: Meandering pulmonary veins can occur on the left side and coincide with features of scimitar syndrome. Multi-detector computed tomography with 3D reconstruction allows clear depiction of vascular connections and associated anomalies, obviating the need for invasive procedures.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidental Findings
  • Lung / blood supply*
  • Lung / pathology
  • Male
  • Multidetector Computed Tomography / methods
  • Patient Discharge / standards
  • Pulmonary Veins / abnormalities*
  • Pulmonary Veins / diagnostic imaging
  • Radiography, Thoracic / methods
  • Scimitar Syndrome / diagnostic imaging*
  • Young Adult