Diagnosis of anomalous origin of the pulmonary artery by echocardiography

Abstract

Objective To analyze the echocardiographic features of anomalous origin of the pulmonary artery. Methods Echocardiographic data of 32 patients with anomalous origin of the pulmonary artery proved by CT or surgical operation in Beijing Military General Hospital from January 2008 to December 2014 were analyzed retrospectively. Results Of them, 7 cases were unilateral absence of pulmonary artery (UAPA), 3 cases were anomalous origin of pulmonary artery (AOPA), and 22 cases were pulmonary artery sling (PAS). Among 32 cases, 2 PAS were missed, 1 UAPA case was misdiagnosed and 1 case was merely suspected by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). The accuracy rate was 90.6% (29/28). The common echocardiographic feature was that the pulmonary trunk and one branch can be displayed normally. The specific echocardiographic features were as follows. In UAPA cases, there was always only one branch of pulmonary artery can be shown. In AOPA cases, an abnormal artery branch can be found at ascending aorta area, and associated with severe pulmonary hypertension. In PAS cases, the left pulmonary artery branch was derived from the distal right pulmonary artery, which could be displayed at high-level pulmonary artery artery long axis plane. Conclusion Anomalous origin of the pulmonary artery had special echocardiographic features. Therefore TTE was able to diagnose the disease early and accurately. Key words: Heart defect, congenital; Echocardiography; Anomalous origin of pulmonary artery