Current concepts on imaging of thoracic vascular abnormalities.

ABSTRACT

Pediatric thoracic vascular abnormalities include many anatomic variants and pathologic conditions. Although some vascular variants are inconsequential and are discovered incidentally on imaging studies, several anomalies have profound effects on the airway and pulmonary parenchyma. Imaging plays a key role in evaluating the chest and its vasculature. The chest radiograph is usually the first screening study performed during the course of evaluation for a vascular abnormality. Cross-sectional imaging with CT and magnetic resonance imaging provides precise anatomic information and has in most cases replaced invasive diagnostic angiographic procedures. We describe common thoracic vascular abnormalities that occur in children and the imaging techniques currently used in their evaluation.