What is the most common primary neoplasm of the pulmonary artery?
Neoplasms associated with the pulmonary vascular system are exceedingly rare. Angiosarcoma is the most common primary neoplasm of the pulmonary artery. Pulmonary artery angiosarcomas can sometimes be difficult to distinguish from occlusive PE on CT and MRI because both may fill the lumen of the pulmonary artery. However, angiosarcomas frequently span the entire luminal diameter of the main or proximal pulmonary arteries, may enhance, may contain internal vascularity, may have metabolic activity on 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET), and may be associated with extension into the mediastinum or lung. These imaging findings are not seen with bland PE. The diagnosis can be confirmed by endovascular biopsy if necessary.
