CTICasesIntravascular Fat in the Pulmonary Artery (Intravascular Lipoma)
Imaging findings
Chest CT reveals underlying emphysema and a well-defined, tubular fat-attenuating structure measuring between -60 and -80 Hounsfield units within the right pulmonary artery. This structure extends from the right main pulmonary artery into the lateral segment branch of the right middle lobe, and remains completely unchanged on serial imaging separated by one month.
Key takeaways
Finding fat within the pulmonary arteries is highly unusual and must be differentiated from a typical acute thromboembolism to prevent unnecessary, potentially harmful anticoagulation. Differentials for fat-density pulmonary arterial filling defects include intravascular lipoma, macroscopic fat emboli (which are typically more globular), embolized renal angiomyolipoma, or a chronic fibrin sheath surrounding a prior indwelling catheter.
AI-assisted summary — may contain errors. Verify against the source video. Learn more
More from this webinar
- Metastatic Lung Adenocarcinoma Presenting as a Hypervascular Superior Vena Cava MassNeoplastic
- Uncorrected Type 1 Truncus ArteriosusCongenital
- Pulmonary Interstitial Emphysema in Dermatomyositis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease and Diffuse Alveolar DamageILD
- Traumatic Right Subclavian Artery-to-Vein Fistula and PseudoaneurysmTrauma
- Sinus Venosus Atrial Septal Defect and Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return with Eisenmenger SyndromeCongenital
- Overlying Hair and Deodorant/Talc Artifacts Mimicking Interstitial Lung Disease and CalcificationArtifact
- Catamenial Hemoptysis (Thoracic Endometriosis Syndrome)Other
- Sarcoidosis Presenting with Uveitis and a Miliary Nodular PatternAutoimmune
See all cases from July 15, 2021 →
Related Artifact cases
- 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
- Intercostal Muscle Flap for Bronchial Stump Reinforcement Post-Pneumonectomy
- Onyx Embolic Material Mimicking Vascular Calcification or Foreign Body