Transesophageal echocardiographic identification of left upper pulmonary venous obstruction caused by compression by spontaneous pseudoaneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta

Abstract

Pseudoaneurysm of the aorta usually occurs as a complication of nonpenetrating trauma or deceleration injuries. Spontaneous pseudoaneurysm of the aorta is, however, extremely rare. Pulmonary veins can be affected in this situation because of the anatomic proximity. However, it is often overlooked during clinical examination, during routine echocardiography, and even at invasive angiography. This report describes the importance of transesophageal echocardiography in the detection of pulmonary vein compression, which is not suspected during other noninvasive and invasive diagnostic tests, in a patient with spontaneous pseudoaneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta.