All issues > Volume 52(1); 2009

Case Report

Korean J Pediatr. 2009;52(1):124-128. Published online January 15, 2009.

Pulmonary arteriovenous malformation manifesting with perioral cyanosis and dyspnea on exertion: A case report

Yu Kyung YK Kim¹, Jin Woo JW Kim¹, Gun G Lee², Man Yong MY Han¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Pochon CHA University, Seongnam, Korea
²Department of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery, Pochon CHA University, Seongnam, Korea

Correspondence Man Yong MY Han ,Email: drmesh@gmail.com

Abstract

Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) are direct communications between pulmonary arteries and pulmonary veins, resulting in right-to-left shunts that may cause cyanosis, dyspnea, and digital clubbing. Neurological complications such as intracerebral hemorrhage or brain abscess may result from cerebral thrombosis or emboli. In most cases, they remain unrecognized until the late teenage years. Here, we report a case of a 6-year-old boy who presented with perioral cyanosis, digital clubbing, and dyspnea on exertion. A plain chest X-ray showed a focal nodular opacity in the right lower lobe (RLL), and a diagnosis of a large PAVM in the RLL was confirmed by chest computed tomography. A right lower lobectomy was successfully performed without any complications. Although their incidence in children is low, PAVMs should be suspected as a possible cause of cyanosis and dyspnea of non-cardiac origin, and should be treated promptly to prevent further neurological complications.

Keywords :Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations, Cyanosis, Dyspnea