J Korean Soc Radiol.  2014 Jun;70(6):408-410. 10.3348/jksr.2014.70.6.408.

Unusual Anatomical Variant of the Left Posterior Basal Segmental Pulmonary Artery: CT Findings

• Kim YS
• Kang MJ
• Jeong MJ
• Kim JH
• Lee JH
• Lee HB
• Bae KE
• Kang TK

• KMID: 1941766
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jksr.2014.70.6.408

Abstract

To avoid vessel injury during minimally invasive surgery of the lung, exact knowledge of the pulmonary vasculature is important to surgeon. In this report, we present the case of unusual anatomical variant of the left posterior basal segmental pulmonary artery, arising from the left main pulmonary artery. This anomaly is rare but easily overlooked during interpretation of CT scans, potentially resulting in serious vessel injury during minimally invasive surgery.

MeSH Terms

Lung
Pulmonary Artery*
Surgical Procedures, Minimally Invasive
Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 A 52-year-old man with an incidentally detected unusual anatomical variant of the left posterior basal segmental pulmonary artery. A-E. Serial contrast enhanced axial chest CT scans show an anomalous vessel (arrows), directly arise from the posterior aspect of the left main pulmonary artery, anterior to the left main bronchus. F, G. Coronal maximum intensity projection image (F) and posterior oblique coronal volume rendered images (G) show an artery supplying left posterior basal segment (arrows), directly arise from left main pulmonary artery before branching upper lobar artery. Note.-Ao = ascending aorta, BT = truncus basalis, LB = left main bronchus, LPA = left pulmonary artery, PA = pulmonary artery

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