Overview of Pulmonary Arteriovenous Malformations and Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia

Abstract

Abstract Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) are rare and commonly caused by an autosomal dominant disorder known as hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). HHT is an often-missed vascular disorder causing symptoms of epistaxis, mucosal telangiectasia, AVMs, hemoptysis, dyspnea, and iron deficiency anemia. Large AVMs in the lungs, liver, and brain can be life-threatening. Early diagnosis and intervention are imperative to prevent serious complications of massive hemoptysis, stroke, cerebral abscess, and gastrointestinal bleeding. This case study of an incidental finding of a PAVM on routine chest-ray proves to be a life-saving event for a young African American woman with undiagnosed HHT.