Chest discomfort leading to the diagnosis of pulmonary artery aneurysm due to isolated main pulmonary arteritis involving giant cells: a case report

Abstract

Background

Isolated pulmonary artery vasculitis is an uncommon cause of pulmonary artery aneurysm with very few reported cases in the literature.

Patients and methods

We hereby present the case of a 70-year-old man with occasional episodes of exertional chest discomfort. Our investigations revealed an expanding aneurysm of the main pulmonary artery extending to the proximal portion of the right branch. The patient successfully underwent replacement of the main pulmonary artery with a homograft.

Results

Histopathological examination revealed images of vasculitis with numerous multinucleated giant cells. The patient’s postoperative course was uneventful.

Conclusion

Management of pulmonary artery aneurysm secondary to isolated pulmonary artery vasculitis is not well studied, and no clear guidelines currently exist in the literature.

Keywords:

• Aneurysm
• pulmonary artery
• isolated main pulmonary vasculitis
• chest discomfort

Ethical approval

This case report was in accordance with the ethical standards.

Patient consent

The authors confirmed that consent for submission was obtained from the patient.

Authors’ contributions

Sarah Sakalihasan: First author, concept, writing. Vincent Tchana-Sato: corresponding author, concept, writing. Audrey Courtois: Drafting article, Histopathological analysis. Jean Olivier Defraigne: Critical revision and correction. Natzi Sakalihasan: Critical revision and correction.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data associated with the paper are not publicly available but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.