PARTIAL ANOMALOUS PULMONARY VENOUS RETURN - ISOLATED, ABERRANT OPENING OF AN UPPER RIGHT PULMONARY VEIN INTO THE SUPERIOR VENA-CAVA IDENTIFIED BY BIPLANE TRANSESOPHAGEAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY

We report on a case of partial anomalous pulmonary venous return in a patient (54 years old, female) examined for the cause of pulmonary hyp ertension. Biplane transesophageal echocardiography in conjunction wit h color-coded ultrasound technique revealed an aberrant vessel drainin g into the vena cava superior. The PW-Doppler pattern typical venous f low and a lack of the upper right pulmonary vein connection into the l eft atrium allowed identification with the pulmonary venous system. Th is malconnection was not accompanied by associated anomalies, or defec ts of the atrial septum in particular. Invasive examination confirmed the echocardiographic results; with an angiographic catheter the openi ng of the right upper pulmonary vein into the superior vena cava was l ocated exactly and depicted.