key: cord-0782513-5mmuzzqu
authors: Rana, Ankita; Abbey, Pooja; Anand, Rama; Gupta, Ankit
title: Hidden in plain sight: A rare abnormality detected on computed tomography pulmonary angiography
date: 2021-08-30
journal: Lung India
DOI: 10.4103/lungindia.lungindia_842_20
sha: 15d90d73091d729150a9fc1acfdcd2862906b54d
doc_id: 782513
cord_uid: 5mmuzzqu

nan

How to cite this article: Rana A, Abbey P, Anand R, Gupta A. Hidden in plain sight: A rare abnormality detected on computed tomography pulmonary angiography. Lung India 2021;38:491-3.

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Aortopulmonary window (APW) or aortopulmonary (AP) septal defect (with pulmonary arterial hypertension and Eisenmenger syndrome).

In this patient, CTPA showed an abnormal communication between ascending aorta and main pulmonary artery [ Figures 2 and 3 ]. There was right as well as left ventricular hypertrophy (more marked on right). The right atrium was dilated, which was also appreciated on the chest radiograph, on review. The main pulmonary artery was dilated (3.6 cm) as compared to aortic root (3.4 cm), suggestive of pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary valve and aortic valve orifices appeared normal. Aortic arch and its branches appeared normal. No evidence of atrial or ventricular septal defects or patent ductus arteriosus was seen. Echocardiography was planned, but unfortunately, the patient rapidly deteriorated during his hospital stay and succumbed to a sudden cardiac arrest.

APW, also known as AP septal defect, is a very rare form of congenital heart disease, in which there is a deficiency in the septum between aorta and pulmonary artery, resulting in an abnormal communication between them. [1] In approximately 50% of cases, it is associated with other disorders such as tetralogy of Fallot, interrupted aortic arch, coarctation of aorta, ventricular septal defect, or tricuspid atresia. [2] It usually presents in the neonatal period, with symptoms of pulmonary overcirculation, such as feeding diaphoresis, tachycardia, tachypnea, and increased propensity toward respiratory viral infections. Uncommonly, presentation in adulthood has been described. The mean survival of uncorrected APW is 33 years. [3] There are three types of APW, depending upon the location of the communication: 1. Type I -Defect in proximal part of AP septum, between aorta and main pulmonary artery. It is the most common type 2. Type II -Defect in distal part of AP septum extending into right pulmonary artery 3. Type III -Combination of I and II. It is the least common type of APW.

The entity must be differentiated from truncus arteriosus, where aorta and pulmonary artery do not differentiate during the fetal life, giving rise to a single large vessel arising from the ventricles with a single arterial or truncal valve. Thus, the presence of two separate semilunar valves is necessary to establish the diagnosis of APW. [4] APWs are generally diagnosed easily in the pediatric age group using echocardiography. In case when echo visualization is poor, angiocardiography is used to demonstrate the abnormal communication. However, CT or CT angiography can also delineate the anatomical defect, as seen in our case. CT has the advantage of being noninvasive (as compared to angiocardiography). Cautious interpretation should be done in the presence of cardiac motion artifacts, which may give rise to false positive results.

Early diagnosis of an APW is important, as surgery or cardiac catheterization device closure during childhood can avoid irreversible pulmonary hypertension, which invariably develops if left untreated. Development of Eisenmenger syndrome in APW is a contraindication to surgical closure of defect. In adult patients with APW, even if correction of defect is done before shunt reversal, the long-term outcomes remain unpredictable. [5] In our case, the patient presented late with the development of cyanosis, clubbing, dyspnea, and hemoptysis, which are features of Eisenmenger syndrome. Hemoptysis is a common occurrence in patients with Eisenmenger syndrome and can lead to death in 11%-29% of cases. [6] The presence of wedge-shaped ground-glass opacity in the right lower lobe in this patient could be due to aspiration of blood or due to pulmonary hemorrhage. 

Helical CT evaluation of aortopulmonary window

Aortopulmonary septal defect

A case of aortopulmonary window: Asymptomatic until the first pregnancy

CT of congenital heart disease: Normal anatomy and typical pathologic conditions

Unrestrictive aortopulmonary window: Extreme presentation as non-Eisenmenger in a 30-year-old patient

Images in cardiovascular medicine. Pulmonary artery thrombosis and hemoptysis in Eisenmenger syndrome

Nil.

There are no conflicts of interest.