Radiologia Brasileira - Publicação Científica Oficial do Colégio Brasileiro de Radiologia

Dear Editor,

A 75-year-old woman presented with a 3-week history of intermittent hemoptysis related to a history of recurrent episodes of pneumonia. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed cylindrical bronchiectasis in the lingula, and bronchoscopy showed clots in the left bronchial tree. Bronchial arteriography was requested and revealed a shunt (Figure 1A) between the left bronchial artery and the left pulmonary artery. During manual-injection digital subtraction angiography, enhancement and stagnation of the contrast media were observed in a false lumen of the descending thoracic aorta (Figures 1B and 1C), consistent with iatrogenic aorta dissection. The iatrogenic aortic dissection extended to the left bronchial artery, leading to obstruction of blood flow to the shunt. However, there were no signs of hemodynamic instability, and the patient therefore received conservative therapy with clinical and radiological monitoring. A second CT scan, obtained 7 days later, showed that the iatrogenic aorta dissection was stable (Figure 1D), and a third scan, obtained 5 months later, showed total resolution. During 7 months of follow-up, the patient reported no pain or new episodes of bleeding.




During endovascular procedures, iatrogenic aortic dissection can occur when the tip of the catheter is pushed into the vessel wall during catheterization, as well as when high-pressure jets of contrast media are directed toward the vessel wall. Although uncommon, iatrogenic aortic dissection accounts for approximately 5% of all thoracic aortic dissections^(1,2). In a review article, Ittrich et al.⁽³⁾ showed rates of subintimal short segment dissection of the aorta during bronchial arteriography ranging from 1% to 6.3%^(4,5), although there are virtually no images of such dissections in the literature. There is no standard for the management of iatrogenic thoracic aorta dissection. Uncomplicated dissection of the descending thoracic aorta is a relatively benign process, and complete spontaneous resolution is observed in most cases. Pharmacological treatment to control pain and blood pressure is recommended, as is short-term follow-up with CT^(6-8).


REFERENCES

1. Nienaber CA, Fattori R, Mehta RH, et al. Gender-related differences in acute aortic dissection. Circulation. 2004;109:3014–21.

2. Januzzi JL, Sabatine MS, Eagle KA, et al. Iatrogenic aortic dissection. Am J Cardiol. 2002;89:623–6.

3. Ittrich H, Klose H, Adam G. Radiologic management of haemoptysis: diagnostic and interventional bronchial arterial embolisation. Rofo. 2015;187:248–59.

4. Uflacker R, Kaemmerer A, Picon PD, et al. Bronchial artery embolization in the management of hemoptysis: technical aspects and long-term results. Radiology. 1985;157:637–44.

5. Mal H, Rullon I, Mellot F, et al. Immediate and long-term results of bronchial artery embolization for life-threatening hemoptysis. Chest. 1999;115:996–1001.

6. Erbel R, Aboyans V, Boileau C, et al. 2014 ESC Guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of aortic diseases: document covering acute and chronic aortic diseases of the thoracic and abdominal aorta of the adult. The Task Force for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Aortic Diseases of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Eur Heart J. 2014;35:2873–926.

7. LeMaire SA, Russell L. Epidemiology of thoracic aortic dissection. Nat Rev Cardiol. 2011;8:103–13.

8. Nienaber CA, Divchev D, Palisch H, et al. Early and late management of type B aortic dissection. Heart. 2014;100:1491–7.










Department of Interventional Radiology and Pulmonology, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

Mailing address:
Dr. Rafael Dahmer Rocha
Avenida Albert Einstein, 627/701, Jardim Leonor
São Paulo, SP, Brazil, 05652-900
E-mail: rafaeldrocha@gmail.com