HIGH-RESOLUTION CT OF THE CHEST IN 4 PATIENTS WITH PULMONARY CAPILLARY HEMANGIOMATOSIS OR PULMONARY VENOOCCLUSIVE DISEASE

OBJECTIVE. Clinical differentiation of isolated pulmonary hypertensive arteriopathy from pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis or pulmonary ve noocclusive disease can be difficult on a clinical basis alone. Differ entiation is important because misdiagnosis of pulmonary capillary hem angiomatosis or pulmonary venoocclusive disease may lead to severe vas odilator-induced pulmonary edema. The objective of our study was to de termine whether high-resolution CT of the chest could distinguish pulm onary capillary hemangiomatosis or pulmonary venoocclusive disease fro m isolated pulmonary hypertensive arteriopathy. CONCLUSION. Pulmonary hypertension in patients who also have pulmonary capillary hemangiomat osis or pulmonary venoocclusive disease shows characteristics on high- resolution CT that are not seen in patients with isolated pulmonary hy pertensive arteriopathy.