Agenesis of the right pulmonary artery

case report

Abstract

Isolated agenesis of the right or left pulmonary artery is a rare congenital anomaly due to the lack of embryological development of one of the aortic arches. The clinical presentation is variable, being the most common in childhood, in the form of contralateral pulmonary hypertension. In adults, hemoptysis may be one of the clinical manifestations, and in asymptomatic individuals, this anomaly can be recognized in diagnostic imaging tests. We report the case of a female patient, 63 years old, referred for investigation of the nodular image in the left pulmonary hilum observed on chest radiography. Computed tomography showed right pulmonary artery agenesis with homolateral pulmonary arterial supply occurring by collateral vessels, left lung with a prominence of the hilar and peri-hilar arteries and veins probably simulating nodulation on the radiograph previously performed, a discreetly reduced volume of the right lung with thickening of the septa secondary to probably increased intraparenchymal collateral microcirculation.