False‐Positive Prenatal Suspicion of Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection: A Benign Confluence Variant Clarified by Cardiac CT

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Case Report. Population: Suspected partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection (PAPVC) clarified as a benign pulmonary venous confluence variant with Scimitar-like features (n=1). Intervention: Cardiac CT angiography and conservative management vs. Prenatal ultrasound and postnatal echocardiography. Primary outcome: Definitive anatomical diagnosis of pulmonary venous drainage and associated cardiopulmonary anomalies.

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

Cardiac CT angiography definitively clarifies sequential false-positive echocardiographic suspicions of partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection by confirming benign pulmonary venous confluence variants. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

Yan Wei; Min Chen; Zhong Zhilin; Wenjun Deng

doi:10.1111/echo.70664

November 1, 2026Echocardiography

False‐Positive Prenatal Suspicion of Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection: A Benign Confluence Variant Clarified by Cardiac CT

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Key result

Cardiac CT angiography rules out suspected PAPVC, clarifying benign pulmonary venous anatomy and preventing unnecessary surgery.

n=1

Why the study?

Prenatal ultrasound and postnatal echocardiography limited by acoustic windows can yield sequential false-positive interpretations of partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection.

Key Points

To resolve conflicting diagnostic findings and accurately characterize suspected partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection initially reported by prenatal ultrasound and postnatal echocardiography.
Assessed an infant following prenatal ultrasound suspicion and postnatal echocardiography indicating anomalous venous drainage into the right atrium.
Performed cardiac CT angiography to delineate anomalous pulmonary vascular anatomy and assess adjacent thoracic structures.
Cardiac CT angiography confirmed normal pulmonary venous drainage entirely into the left atrium via a benign confluence variant, refuting right atrial drainage.
Identified coexisting mediastinal lung herniation, bronchial stenosis, and intralobar pulmonary sequestration resembling a Scimitar-like variant, leading to conservative management over surgical intervention.

Study Design

Type

Case Report (n=1)

Structured PICO

P

Population

1 patient with prenatal and postnatal echocardiographic suspicion of partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection (PAPVC) later found to have a benign pulmonary venous confluence variant, mediastinal lung herniation, bronchial stenosis, and intralobar pulmonary sequestration.

I

Intervention

Cardiac CT angiography for anatomical clarification followed by conservative management (surgery was declined)

C

Comparator

Prenatal ultrasound and postnatal echocardiography

O

Outcome

Anatomical clarification of pulmonary venous drainage (confirming drainage entirely into the left atrium) and identification of coexisting congenital cardiopulmonary anomaliessurrogate

Highlights the risk of diagnostic anchoring and acoustic window limitations causing sequential false-positive echocardiographic diagnoses of PAPVC, and demonstrates the decisive role of cardiac CT angiography in clarifying complex congenital pulmonary venous anatomy.

Limitations

Postnatal echocardiography was influenced by the initial prenatal report and limited by acoustic windows.
Single-patient case report
Postnatal echocardiography was limited by acoustic windows and diagnostic anchoring from the prenatal ultrasound report

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Implication

Cardiac CT may resolve echo false positives for PAPVC; this case leaves open systematic validation of its role in ambiguous venous anatomy.

Abstract

Prenatal ultrasound raised a false‐positive suspicion of partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection (PAPVC). Influenced by this initial report and limited by acoustic windows, postnatal echocardiography erroneously reported drainage into the right atrium. Cardiac CT angiography definitively confirmed a benign pulmonary venous confluence variant draining entirely into the left atrium, and revealed coexisting mediastinal lung herniation, bronchial stenosis, and an intralobar pulmonary sequestration, suggestive of a Scimitar‐like variant. Surgery was declined, and conservative management was pursued. This case highlights sequential false‐positive echocardiographic interpretations and the decisive role of CT.

Discussion

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Cite This Study

Wei et al. (2026) conducted a case report in Suspected partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection (PAPVC) clarified as a benign pulmonary venous confluence variant with Scimitar-like features (n=1). Cardiac CT angiography and conservative management vs. Prenatal ultrasound and postnatal echocardiography was evaluated on Definitive anatomical diagnosis of pulmonary venous drainage and associated cardiopulmonary anomalies. Cardiac CT angiography resolved sequential false-positive echocardiographic suspicions of PAPVC in 1 case, confirming a benign confluence variant draining into the left atrium.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aee6bd871a7594806220c17 https://doi.org/10.1111/echo.70664

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False‐Positive Prenatal Suspicion of Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection: A Benign Confluence Variant Clarified by Cardiac CT

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Limitations

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

False‐Positive Prenatal Suspicion of Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection: A Benign Confluence Variant Clarified by Cardiac CT

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Limitations

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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