Aneurysms of the main pulmonary artery are rare. They are usually associated with congenital cardiac defects, particularly those leading to pulmonary hypertension. In the past, syphilitic and mycotic aneurysms of this artery have been reported.
In true aneurysms, dilatation tends to be confined to the trunk of the artery, and degenerative changes can be demonstrated in the wall. True aneurysms must be differentiated from the dilatation of the major branches of the pulmonary artery which usually accompanies absent pulmonic valve with ventricular septal defect. Such dilatation is also seen in some cases of tetrology of Fallot following surgical correction.1 The following report concerns a child with an aneurysm of the pulmonary artery. Follow-up extended over a 13-year period. Numerous hemodynamic and radiographic studies were performed, and rupture of the aneurysm was demonstrated at postmortem examination.
Report of a Case
This 15-year-old white girl was first referred for cardiac evaluation