Type:
Educational Exhibit
Keywords:
Not applicable, Obstruction / Occlusion, Diagnostic procedure, Digital radiography, CT-Angiography, CT, Thorax, Lung, Chest
Authors:
N. Bhatt1, N. Chua2, N. F. Bassett1, S. mcclaggan1, V. H. lopes1; 1Luton/UK, 2London/UK
DOI:
10.26044/ecr2020/C-12772
Background
Pulmonary infarction describes necrosis of lung parenchyma secondary to failure of adequate perfusion. The lung parenchyma is usually protected from this due to dual blood supply from the central bronchial arteries and peripheral pulmonary arteries and the extensive anastomoses between them. When tissue oxygen requirements are not met, infarction ensues, and this is typically seen is more distal pulmonary artery occlusion [1]. Thromboembolic disease is the most common cause for this, although tumour and septic emboli should also be considered in the appropriate clinical context. Characteristic manifestations of pulmonary infarction have been described on various imaging modalities including computer tomography (CT); recognition of which can enable the correct therapeutic management to be actioned and avoid unnecessary further investigations.