Differential diagnosis between patent foramen ovale and pulmonary arteriovenous fistula in two patients with previous cryptogenic stroke caused by presumed paradoxical embolism

J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2002 Aug;15(8):845-6. doi: 10.1067/mje.2002.120289.

Abstract

Development of improved devices for interventional closure of atrial septal defect and patent foramen ovale increased the number of adult patients who are being referred for transcatheter closure. We report two cases that were scheduled for patent foramen ovale closure because of a right-to-left atrial shunt detected at contrast transesophageal echocardiography in another institution and that were found to have pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas. Embolization of pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas was carried out successfully by transcatheter technique.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Arteriovenous Fistula / complications
  • Arteriovenous Fistula / diagnostic imaging*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Echocardiography, Transesophageal
  • Embolism / complications
  • Embolism / diagnostic imaging
  • Female
  • Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / complications
  • Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / diagnostic imaging*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Pulmonary Artery / abnormalities*
  • Pulmonary Artery / diagnostic imaging
  • Pulmonary Veins / abnormalities*
  • Pulmonary Veins / diagnostic imaging
  • Stroke / etiology