Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return (PAPVR)

Echo studies

Other images

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Partial anomalous pulmonary venous return poses a diagnostic challenge to non-invasive imaging though it can be reliably detected at right heart catheterization by a rise in O2 saturation in the proximal right atrium. Most PAPVR consists of right pulmonary veins draining into the superior vena cava or right atrium. Association with sinus venosus defect is frequent.

Where the partial anomalous vein arises on the left, there is often a vertical vein draining into the brachiocephalic vein.

Right pulmonary veins draining into the IVC usually produce a configuration described as "scimitar syndrome." This is more often associated with an intact atrial septum and other anomalies, including hypoplasia of the right lung.