Korean Journal of Radiology

The Korean Society of Radiology (대한영상의학회)
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Superior Vena Cava Syndrome Associated with Right-to-Left Shunt through Systemic-to-Pulmonary Venous Collaterals

  • Juan, Yu-Hsiang (Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School) ;
  • Saboo, Sachin S. (Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School) ;
  • Anand, Vishal (Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School) ;
  • Chatzizisis, Yiannis S. (Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School) ;
  • Lin, Yu-Ching (Department of Medical Imaging and Intervention, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung and Chang Gung University) ;
  • Steigner, Michael L. (Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School)
  • Received : 2013.09.18
  • Accepted : 2013.11.26
  • Published : 2014.04.01
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Abstract

Superior vena cava (SVC) obstruction is associated with the gradual development of venous collaterals. We present a rare form of systemic-to-pulmonary subpleural collateral pathway that developed in the bridging subpleural pulmonary veins in a 54-year-old woman with complete SVC obstruction. This uncommon collateral pathway represents a rare form of acquired right-to-left shunt due to previous pleural adhesions with an increased risk of stroke due to right-to-left venous shunting, which requires lifelong anticoagulation.

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References

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