WALL ENHANCEMENT OF LEAKING POLYTETRAFLUOROETHYLENE GRAFTS - A NEW CTSIGN

Perigraft seroma is a rare complication of synthetic vascular grafts. We describe a new sign observed in two children who underwent computed tomography of the chest for further evaluation of seromas complicatin g modified Blalock-Taussig procedures in which a polytetrafluoroethyle ne graft was used. In both patients contrast enhancement of the wall o f the leaking graft was demonstrated on delayed imaging. One patient h ad bilateral grafts, and the enhancement was only demonstrated in the wall of the leaking graft. We discuss the possible mechanism of this f inding and propose that this sign may be further evidence of abnormal graft permeability.