CTICasesPulmonary vein smoke artifact
Imaging findings
CT pulmonary angiogram in a postpartum female shows large bilateral pulmonary emboli and a low-attenuation fluid-contrast interface in the left inferior pulmonary vein, simulating pulmonary venous thrombosis. There is no associated pulmonary edema, representing slow venous flow secondary to upstream arterial obstruction.
Key takeaways
Severe pulmonary arterial obstruction from acute embolism can cause marked slowing of pulmonary venous flow. On CT, this can result in a layering blood-contrast level (smoke artifact) in the pulmonary veins, mimicking venous thrombosis.
AI-assisted summary — may contain errors. Verify against the source video. Learn more
More from this webinar
- Pulmonary embolismVascular
- Innominate artery stenosisVascular
- Small cell lung carcinomaNeoplastic
- Typical carcinoidNeoplastic
- Smoking-related diffuse lung diseaseExposure
- Juvenile chronic arthritis-associated interstitial lung diseaseILD
- Aortopulmonary windowCongenital
- Pulmonary tuberculosisInfection
See all cases from August 31, 2018 →
Related Artifact cases
- Incidental Ectopic Ossific Lesion ("Rocks of Bone") of Unknown Etiology
- Intrapulmonary Lymph Node Mimicking a Solitary Pulmonary Nodule
- SVC Syndrome with Venous-Enhancement Pseudo-Sclerotic Bone Metastases
- LVAD Outflow Cannula Extraluminal Fluid Mimicking Thrombus
- Tipped-Up Right Middle Lobe (Chronic Cicatrization Atelectasis)
- Post-Lobectomy Mediastinal Lymphocele Mimicking Recurrent Lymphadenopathy