Silke Braun, Ivan Platzek, Klaus Zöphel, Matthias Weise, Martin Kolditz, Michael Halank, Gert Hoeffken
University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus.
Germany
European Respiratory Review
Eur Respir Rev 2014; 23: 170-179
DOI: 10.1183/09059180.00003713
Abstract
Haemoptysis is a potentially life-threatening condition with the need for prompt diagnosis. In about 10-20% of all cases the bleeding source remains unexplained with the standard diagnostic approach. The aim of this article is to show the necessity of widening the diagnostic approach to haemoptysis with consideration of pulmonary venous stenosis as a possible cause of even severe haemoptysis and haemoptoe. A review of the literature was performed using the Medline/PubMed database with the terms: “pulmonary venous stenosis”, “pulmonary venous infarction” and “haemoptysis”. Further references from the case reports were considered. 58 case reports and case collections about patients with haemoptysis due to pulmonary venous stenosis were detected. This review gives an overview about the case reports and discusses the underlying pathophysiology and the pros and cons of different imaging techniques for the detection of pulmonary venous stenosis. Several conditions predispose to the obstruction of the mediastinal pulmonary veins. Clinical findings are unspecific and may be misleading. Pulmonary venous stenosis can be detected using several imaging techniques, yet three-dimensional magnetic resonance-angiography and three-dimensional contrast-enhanced computed tomography are the most appropriate. Pulmonary venous stenosis should be considered in patients with haemoptysis.
Category
Symptoms and Quality of Life Associated with Pulmonary Venous Obstruction
Diagnostic Testing. Noninvasive
Year of Publication: 2014
Age Focus: Pediatric or Adult
Article Type: Review
Article Access: Free PDF File or Full Text Article Available Through PubMed or DOI: Yes