INTRALUMINAL MASS OF THE LEFT PULMONARY-ARTERY

Digital subtraction angiography has recently found many clinical applications, including evaluation of renal, aortic, extracranial cerebrovascular, peripheral, and pulmonary vascular systems. In the authors' patient, demonstration on CT of a mass immediately adjacent to the left pulmonary artery indicated that resection was unlikely. Digital subtraction angiography of tumor within the left pulmonary artery provided additional valuable diagnostic information. Intravenous digital subtraction angiography demonstrated a polypoid carcinosarcoma invading the left main pulmonary artery. The angiographic criteria of inoperability of patients with central pulmonary tumors are discussed.