Computed tomography features of supracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection in an infant

• Main Authors: Tariq Alam, MMBS, FCPS, Hidayatullah Hamidi, MD, Mer Mahmood Shah Hoshang, MD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2016-09-01
• Series: Radiology Case Reports
• Subjects: anomalous pulmonary venous connection; congenital heart disease; cyanosis
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1930043316300565

Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) is a rare congenital anomaly of the pulmonary veins drainage. In this entity, the pulmonary veins, instead of draining to left atrium, connect abnormally to the systemic venous circulation. A right-to-left shunt is obligatory for survival. Based on its type and degree of pulmonary venous obstruction, TAPVC may result in pulmonary hypertension and congestive heart failure. In severe cases, urgent diagnosis and surgical correction is essential to reduce morbidity and mortality. Echocardiography as the first and safest imaging modality for cardiovascular abnormalities may fail in complete depiction of some complex feature of TAPVC. Computed tomography angiography is then a noninvasive and sensitive choice for mapping the pulmonary veins without the need for invasive cardiac catheterization. Contrast-enhanced MR angiography can be a radiation-free alternative. Authors present a computed tomography–detected supracardiac TAPVC with small patent ductus arteriosus in a 2 months cyanotic infant.