Absence of the fetal right pulmonary artery complicated with coarctation of the aorta: Prenatal and postnatal diagnosis

Abstract

Unilateral absence of the pulmonary artery (UAPA) is a rare congenital cardiovascular malformation that can present as an isolated lesion or may be associated with other congenital heart malformations. Several studies have reported UAPA after birth. To our knowledge, the absence of the right pulmonary artery in the fetus has not been reported. Here, we report a rare case of fetal right pulmonary artery absence with aortic coarctation, which was confirmed by postpartum ultrasound and computed tomography angiography (CTA). Our case demonstrates that fetal echocardiography, especially the three-vessel view, is beneficial for the prenatal diagnosis of pulmonary artery malformations.

Keywords: absence of right pulmonary artery; coarctation of the aorta; fetus.