Hampton's Hump-A Rare Radiological Feature in Patients with Pulmonary Embolism in a Single-Center Study

Abstract

Background: Pulmonary embolism is a potentially life-threatening condition caused by the sudden occlusion of pulmonary arteries. Its non-specific and highly variable clinical presentation often leads to undiagnosed cases, making computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) essential for diagnosis. Hampton's hump is a rare radiological finding associated with pulmonary embolism, characterized by a wedge-shaped, pleural-based opacification due to pulmonary infarction. Methods: This study examines the correlation between pulmonary embolism severity and the presence of Hampton's hump in CTPA based on a database of 428 patients. Results: We observed a correlation between the presence of Hampton's hump and an increased likelihood of rider-type embolism, pleural effusion, and dilation of the pulmonary trunk and left pulmonary artery. The data indicate that patients with at least one risk factor for severe pulmonary embolism are more likely to present with Hampton's hump. Furthermore, the presence of this sign in patients diagnosed with pulmonary embolism and pleural effusion substantially increases the risk of in-hospital death. Conclusions: This study underscores the significance of Hampton's hump as a rare but clinically relevant radiological finding in patients with pulmonary embolism. Given the limited number of studies on this topic, our findings provide valuable insights into the role of Hampton's hump in the context of pulmonary embolism.

Keywords: CTA; Hampton’s hump; pulmonary embolism.

Figure 1

(A) CT pulmonary angiogram shows the wedge-shaped subpleural pulmonary infarction in the axial plane (Hampton’s hump; arrow). (B) CT pulmonary angiogram shows the wedge-shaped subpleural pulmonary infarction in the coronal plane.