CTICasesExtracorporeal Right Ventricular Assist Device Cannula showing Dilutional Asymmetric Contrast Opacification
Imaging findings
Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the chest shows excellent, dense opacification of the main and left pulmonary arteries but significantly decreased, wash-out opacification of the right pulmonary artery and right lung vasculature. An extracorporeal right ventricular assist device cannula is visible, draining blood from the right atrium and delivering unopacified, oxygenated blood directly into the main pulmonary artery, diluting the injected intravenous contrast medium.
Key takeaways
The use of extracorporeal right ventricular assist devices can cause severe contrast dilution artifacts in the pulmonary arterial tree. This physiologic dilution can lead to asymmetric or poor opacification of the pulmonary arteries on CTPA, which may mimic pulmonary embolism or limit diagnostic sensitivity unless contrast injection parameters or cannula flow are temporarily modified.
AI-assisted summary — may contain errors. Verify against the source video. Learn more
More from this webinar
- Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis and Desquamative Interstitial PneumoniaILD
- Achalasia Mimicking TraumaOther
- Plexiform Arteriopathy in Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial HypertensionVascular
- Pectus Excavatum with Cosmetic Chest Implant Mimicking PneumoniaArtifact
- Wandering Pleural BulletTrauma
- Accidental Right Subclavian Artery CatheterizationIatrogenic
- Pericardial Effusion with Epicardial Fat SignInflammatory
- Mediastinal Lymphatic-Venous MalformationCongenital
See all cases from August 8, 2021 →
Related Artifact cases
- Intravascular Fat in the Pulmonary Artery (Intravascular Lipoma)
- Overlying Hair and Deodorant/Talc Artifacts Mimicking Interstitial Lung Disease and Calcification
- Hyperthermia Treated with Ice Packs
- Hyperthermia-Induced Cardiac Arrest with Ice Pack Artifacts
- Surgicel (Hemostatic Material) Mimicking Postoperative Mediastinal Abscess
- Bronchial Artery to Pulmonary Artery Shunt Mimicking Pulmonary Embolism