Grossly Abnormal Ventilation/Perfusion SPECT Study in Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Without Thromboembolism

We present a case of severe idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension in a 20-year-old patient with ongoing breathlessness. She was initially diagnosed with asthma and panic attacks in community care. As the symptoms became progressively worse, she was referred for pulmonary hypertension clinic assessment. Ventilation/perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (V/Q SPECT) showed grossly abnormal perfusion defects which were mismatched to the ventilation scan, suggestive of chronic thromboembolic disease.

Source: Heart, Lung and Circulation - January 27, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: Kenneth Chan, John G. Coghlan, Margaret Hall, Jamanda Haddock, Alan Bates, Benjamin E. Schreiber Tags: Image Source Type: research