Unusual presentation of a patient with partial anomalous pulmonary venous connections without a septal defect: a case report and literature review
Dublin Core
Title
Unusual presentation of a patient with partial anomalous pulmonary venous connections without a septal defect: a case report and literature review
Subject
Case report, Congenital heart disease, Cardiac surgery, Pulmonary veins
Description
Abstract
Introduction Partial anomalous pulmonary vein connections (PAPVC) are rare congenital abnormalities in which one
or more pulmonary veins drain into the right atrium. This pathological condition may present in various ways, such
as chest pain and dyspnea, or it may be diagnosed incidentally. Consequently, missed or late diagnoses are common,
highlighting the importance of optimal diagnostic modalities. This study presents a case of PAPVC that remained
undiagnosed despite two years of symptomatic evaluations.
Case Presentation The patient was a 58-year-old woman who presented with chest pain and dyspnea, New York
Heart Association Functional Class (NYHA FC) II, which had started 2 years before. She had been evaluated with a
transthoracic echocardiogram, coronary angiography, and chest imaging, none of which resulted in a diagnosis or
effective treatment. After being referred for evaluation by a cardiac imaging specialist, the diagnosis of PAPVC was
revealed. The patient underwent corrective surgery, resulting in complete recovery and symptom improvement.
Post-surgical cardiac overload caused pleural effusion and dyspnea, which were managed with diuretics. Four- and
six-month follow-ups showed no abnormal findings on examination and imaging, and the patient reported no new
complaints.
Conclusion The findings in this structural cardiac abnormality are nonspecific and can be missed, and misdiagnosis
is relatively common. However, patients with symptoms such as chest pain, dyspnea, increased pulmonary artery
pressure, and right ventricle dilation should undergo surgical treatment to avoid more serious complications, such as
heart failure.
Key clinical point Detection of PAPVC is not straightforward in many cases and often requires evaluation with
various imaging techniques for accurate diagnosis. Therefore, physicians encountering undefined causes of chest pain
or dyspnea should consider multiple imaging modalities. Follow-up is also important, as certain groups of patients
may require surgical treatment to prevent complications.
Introduction Partial anomalous pulmonary vein connections (PAPVC) are rare congenital abnormalities in which one
or more pulmonary veins drain into the right atrium. This pathological condition may present in various ways, such
as chest pain and dyspnea, or it may be diagnosed incidentally. Consequently, missed or late diagnoses are common,
highlighting the importance of optimal diagnostic modalities. This study presents a case of PAPVC that remained
undiagnosed despite two years of symptomatic evaluations.
Case Presentation The patient was a 58-year-old woman who presented with chest pain and dyspnea, New York
Heart Association Functional Class (NYHA FC) II, which had started 2 years before. She had been evaluated with a
transthoracic echocardiogram, coronary angiography, and chest imaging, none of which resulted in a diagnosis or
effective treatment. After being referred for evaluation by a cardiac imaging specialist, the diagnosis of PAPVC was
revealed. The patient underwent corrective surgery, resulting in complete recovery and symptom improvement.
Post-surgical cardiac overload caused pleural effusion and dyspnea, which were managed with diuretics. Four- and
six-month follow-ups showed no abnormal findings on examination and imaging, and the patient reported no new
complaints.
Conclusion The findings in this structural cardiac abnormality are nonspecific and can be missed, and misdiagnosis
is relatively common. However, patients with symptoms such as chest pain, dyspnea, increased pulmonary artery
pressure, and right ventricle dilation should undergo surgical treatment to avoid more serious complications, such as
heart failure.
Key clinical point Detection of PAPVC is not straightforward in many cases and often requires evaluation with
various imaging techniques for accurate diagnosis. Therefore, physicians encountering undefined causes of chest pain
or dyspnea should consider multiple imaging modalities. Follow-up is also important, as certain groups of patients
may require surgical treatment to prevent complications.
Creator
Pouya Ebrahimi1
, Mohammad Hossein Mandegar2
, Mehrdad Jafari Fesharaki3
, Negar Ghasemloo4
,
Pedram Ramezani1
, Tooba Akbari3,6* and Fatemeh Naderi5
, Mohammad Hossein Mandegar2
, Mehrdad Jafari Fesharaki3
, Negar Ghasemloo4
,
Pedram Ramezani1
, Tooba Akbari3,6* and Fatemeh Naderi5
Source
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-025-00809-3
Date
2025
Contributor
Peri Irawan
Format
pdf
Language
englsih
Type
text
Files
Collection
Citation
Pouya Ebrahimi1
, Mohammad Hossein Mandegar2
, Mehrdad Jafari Fesharaki3
, Negar Ghasemloo4
,
Pedram Ramezani1
, Tooba Akbari3,6* and Fatemeh Naderi5, “Unusual presentation of a patient with partial anomalous pulmonary venous connections without a septal defect: a case report and literature review,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed April 25, 2026, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/12624.