Dissecting aneurysm of the pulmonary artery in a case of unoperated patent ductus arteriosus

Abstract

A 54-year-old woman with unoperated patent ductus arteriosus developed fatal cardiac tamponade due to a dissecting aneurysm of the pulmonary artery causing haemopericardium. Histology of the pulmonary artery showed the presence of cystic medial necrosis. Previous reports of this condition are reviewed and the role of pulmonary hypertension causing secondary cystic medial necrosis is discussed.