Pulmonary artery malformations
Ritscher, D.; Igual, M.; Rüttimann, S.; Turina, J.; Russi, E.W.
Schweizerische Medizinische Wochenschrift 129(50): 1970-1977
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0036-7672 PMID: 10637950 Document Number: 501310
We report on two patients with pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVM). An almost asymptomatic young man and an elderly woman with severe dyspnoea illustrate paradigmatically various aspects of the clinical manifestation, diagnostic approach and treatment of this rare disorder. New aspects with respect to genetics, diagnosis and therapy are discussed. PAVM are often manifestations of hereditary teleangiectasia, which also affect blood vessels of the skin, mucous membranes, brain and liver. Transcatheter embolotherapy is a safe, effective and minimally invasive treatment option, which seems to be replacing surgical resection as first-line therapy in many cases.