Acquired Extracardiac Causes of Pulmonary Ischemia

Pulmonary vascular ischemia may be associated with acquired extracardiac lesions such as primary pulmonary hypertension, multiple peripheral and/or main pulmonary artery saddle emboli, pericarditis, pericardial effusion, diffuse replacement of the liver and obstruction of the inferior vena cava. Sixty-seven proved cases have been studied, and the occurrence of pulmonary vascular changes on plain roentgenograms of the chest reviewed. Typical roentgenographic examples are presented. The recognition of pulmonary vascular ischemia was found to be important as it frequently indicated a very serious complication to one of the above disease entities. Right ventricular angiography was often required to help differentiate these lesions and to help identify those patients who were candidates for surgery.