Abstract

Background:
Racemose hemangioma of the bronchial artery is a condition in which the bronchial artery is significantly curved, dilated, or tortuous, either congenitally or acquired, and sometimes shows abnormal anastomosis with the pulmonary artery and vein.However, asymptomatic cases are occasionally diagnosed incidentally. Diagnosis was made using selective angiography and computed tomography (CT). This study reports the incidental diagnosis of racemose hemangioma of the bronchial artery in asymptomatic dogs and the results of the subsequent observations.

Case Description:
A 1-year-old Labrador Retriever with asymptomatic cardiac enlargement underwent an ultrasound examination, during which abnormal blood flow into the pulmonary artery was observed. A CT scan revealed a racemose hemangioma of the bronchial artery with a shunt to the pulmonary artery. The dog is alive and showed no clinical symptoms 352 days post-diagnosis.

Conclusion:
This is the first report describes a rare case of racemose hemangioma of the bronchial artery and demonstrates the usefulness of CT in diagnosing this condition.

Key words: Bronchopulmonary artery fistula; Canine; Racemose hemangioma of the bronchial artery.