High prevalence of a linear valve-like structure on CT at the pulmonary artery terminus of patent ductus arteriosus in adult patients, mimicking endarteritis.

PURPOSE: A linear valve-like structure at the pulmonary artery terminus is identified on CT in some patients with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and can potentially be mistaken for endarteritis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differences in CT features between adult patients with PDA and a linear structure and those without.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated ECG-gated cardiac CT of 38 patients with PDA dividing them into two groups [patients with linear symmetrical valve-like structure (group1, n = 16), and those without (group 2, n = 22)]. We analyzed CT findings of the PDA including length, minimal and maximal diameter, presence of calcification, and PDA type, comparing the two subgroups. The authors also investigated the prevalence of endarteritis.

RESULTS: There was no difference in CT findings between the two groups in the prevalence of calcification and length, and minimal and maximal diameter of PDA. Notably the linear valve-like structure was only identified in type 1 PDA (cone-shaped PDA) (p = 0.04), while there were variable types of PDA in group 2. There was only one case of endarteritis as a complication of PDA in group 1. In contrast to a linear valve-like structure, asymmetrical nodular thickening was noted in the patient with endarteritis on CT overlying the pre-existing linear valve-like structure at the pulmonary end of PDA.

CONCLUSION: A linear valve-like structure is frequently identified at the pulmonary end in type 1 PDA. This CT finding should not be mistaken for endarteritis in the absence of other clinical evidence.