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What is best imaging to detect a pulmonary artery aneurysm in behcets diseaseand can it be treated?

By August 20, 2010 - 6:24am
 
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I have behcets disease diagnosed in 2007 but found to have existed throuout my life and the cause for my ailments. I have had 6+ pulmonary embolisms since the age of 27 and leg thrombosis twice. Mouth and digestive ulcers, Barrets Esophegus and presently having problems with my eyes. Many lung problems including a collapsed lung, COPD, Emphesema but mostly Pulmonary Emboli. The Dr's have never determined a reason for the embolisms but have finally put me on Coumadin for life. I worry about a possible pulmonary artery aneurism and would like to know how to best detect it and the symptoms (if there are any) and or treatment.
Thank you.
Ms. Adrienne LaMonte

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Hi Ms. LaMonte

I'm sorry to hear about your medical issues. PEs and clots are scary and painful, so you've been through an awful lot.

As far as imaging, probably the most likely test would be a TEE, or transesophageal echocardiogram. This is done in an endoscopy lab. They use an endoscope like those used for colonoscopy and EGDs where they check your esophagus and stomach.

They put the scope down your esophagus while you are under conscious sedation, and they sort of ultrasound the parts of your heart that cannot be easily seen by a regular chest ultrasound. This test shows blood flow as well as the heart and great vessels, so it shows if valves are not working quite right or blood is flowing in the wrong direction such as when you have a PFO or hole in your heart.

Have you discussed this with your treatment team? Are you seeing a cardiologist? If you have further questions, or if I didn't fully answer what you were asking, please let me know. Thank you for writing.

August 20, 2010 - 7:12am
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