Pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysms: endovascular management after adequate imaging diagnosis

Abstract

Pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysms (PAPs) are rare serious vascular abnormalities mostly due to infections and trauma, although other conditions such as vasculitis, neoplasms, or inflammatory lung diseases can also predispose to this entity. Endovascular techniques such as embolization or covered stent placement have mostly substituted surgical approaches, for their lower invasiveness and greater security, mainly in patients with life-threatening hemoptysis. The purpose of this manuscript is to describe the imaging findings of pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysms and their endovascular management including tips to help interventional radiologists. PAP should be diagnosed as accurately and early as possible in order to prompt endovascular management of further life-threatening hemoptysis. KEY POINTS: • Pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysms (PAPs) are rare serious vascular abnormalities that may represent a life-threatening condition, mainly due to Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, or Mycobacterium tuberculosis. • Radiologists should know the imaging findings of PAP in order to make an accurate and early diagnosis to prompt endovascular management of further life-threatening hemoptysis.

Keywords: Endovascular procedures; False aneurysm; Hemoptysis; Pulmonary artery.