Experimentally induced pulmonary arterial occlusion with detachable balloon in pigs: Thin-section CT findings

Rationale and Objectives. The authors evaluated changes of lung attenuation in pigs. with special attention to the mosaic pattern of low attenuation, at thin-section computed tomography (CT) after obstruction of the proximal pulmonary artery with a detachable balloon. Materials and Methods. In seven pigs, nine sites of the descending pulmonary artery were obstructed with detachable balloons. Thin-section CT scans of the lungs were obtained immediately (n = 9) and at 1 week (n = 5), 2 weeks (n = 1), 3 weeks (n = 2), 4 weeks (n = 1), 6 weeks (n = 1), 8 weeks (n = 1), and 12 weeks (n = 1) after pulmonary artery obstruction. Results. No statistically significant difference was found between the measured lung attenuation of the normal lung and that of the lung distal to the obstruction. Of the nine sites of pulmonary artery obstruction, five (56%) showed an irregular area of increased lung attenuation without lobular architecture. The diameter of the pulmonary artery after obstruction, compared with the diameter :before obstruction, decreased by a range of 13%-57% (mean, 35%) and by 0-67% (mean, 44%) at levels 1 cm and 2 cm distal to the obstruction, respectively. Conclusion. This experimental study reveals that regional low-attenuation areas do not develop for up to 12 weeks after the obstruction of proximal pulmonary artery, despite a marked decrease in the diameter of the pulmonary artery distal to the obstruction.