Computed tomography of pulmonary venous variants and anomalies

Abstract

Radiofrequency ablation of the pulmonary veins is a well-established technique in the management of atrial fibrillation. Computed tomography (CT) plays an important role in the evaluation of these patients, especially delineating pulmonary venous anatomy, anatomic variations, and complications after radiofrequency ablation. CT scan is characterized by high spatial and temporal resolutions, multiplanar reconstruction capabilities, and wide field of view. Knowledge of the normal pulmonary venous anatomy, anatomic variants, and optimal scanning protocol is essential for preablation planning and for evaluation of postablation complications. In this pictorial review, the CT appearance of various pulmonary venous variants and anomalies are discussed and illustrated.