Caption: Figure 1: Axial and coronal sequential images: (a, b) the left upper pulmonary vein (light blue) first runs under the left pulmonary artery, (c, d) then goes up medially to it, (e, f) crosses the
aortopulmonary window, and finally (g) joins the left brachiocephalic vein.
Aortopulmonary window is caused by the failure to fuse of the two opposing conotruncal ridges that are responsible for separating the truncus arteriosus into the aorta and pulmonary artery.
Currently, approximately 300 cases are cited in the literature1 in which aortopulmonary window occurs as an isolated lesion.
Despite the rarity of aortopulmonary window, the condition has been classified into 3 types: proximal, or type I; distal, or type II; and total, or type III.
Our surgical experiences with
aortopulmonary window.
Some reports have found its association with tetralogy of Fallot, complete atrioventricular septal defect, and
aortopulmonary window, which arises secondary to failure of septation in the aorticopulmonary trunk.
Aortopulmonary window (APW) is a relatively rare congenital disease consisting of a septal defect between the ascending aorta and the pulmonary artery, creating a left-to-right shunt (1-4).
Aortopulmonary window is a rare abnormality, first described in 1830 by Elliotson, with the incidence of less than 1% of all congenital cardiac disease (5).
There are also enlarged lymph node(s) in the
aortopulmonary window region (Figure 3) and small metastatic lesions in the left lung (Figure 4).
Figure 6: CT Thorax showing lung cyst- (A) Lung window (B)
Aortopulmonary window.
As the first step, echocardiography showed an aortopulmonary window and anomalous right coronary artery from pulmonary artery.
The association of aortopulmonary window with anomalous right coronary artery originating from pulmonary artery is a very rare entity.
