Arteriovenous Fistula of the Lung

ARTERIOVENOUS fistula in the peripheral circulatory system, though uncommon, has been a subject of surgical discussion through the years. In contrast, similar lesions in the pulmonary circulatory system have received attention in the literature only recently. The rarity of this pathologic condition is suggested, or its lack of recognition is emphasized, when it is noted that no mention of it is made in Brenner's complete treatise1in 1935 on the pathologic conditions of vessels in the pulmonary circulation and that only 12 cases were recorded in the literature to November 1947. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE The first authentic case of cavernous hemangioma of the lung with typical signs, including cyanosis and polycythemia, was reported by Rodes2in 1938. The cause of death was pulmonary hemorrhage, and at autopsy there were seen three hemangiomas with communicating openings between arteries and veins. Other similar cases in which operation was not