Improvement after Angioplasty and Stenting of Pulmonary Arteries Due to Sarcoid Mediastinal Fibrosis

We describe a series of cases referred to our institution with working diagnoses of chronic thrombo-embolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) for consideration of surgical pulmonary thrombo-endarterectomy (PTE). Investigations in two cases revealed extrinsic compression of the pulmonary arteries from massive mediastinal lymphadenopathy (mediastinal fibrosis) due to underlying sarcoidosis. Angioplasty and stenting of the pulmonary arteries were performed in all cases with sustained haemodynamic and functional improvement. This highlights the value of new imaging modalities in delineating causes of pulmonary hypertension, and demonstrates an interventional approach for selected cases.

Keywords: Mediastinal fibrosis, Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary hypertension, Pulmonary artery stenting, Pulmonary angioplasty