The pulmonary vasculature in tetralogy of Fallot (roentgenographic and cardioangiographic analysis in 50 consecutive cases)

In 50 cases of tetralogy of Fallot, the following different patterns in the pulmonary arterial tree were found: (1) Hypoplastic pulmonary arterial tree—44 per cent; (2) Definite evidence of narrowing at the origin of one or both pulmonary arteries—18 per cent; (3) Kinking, simulating obstruction, with post-stenotic dilatation of the left pulmonary artery—16 per cent; (4) Mild stenosis of questionable importance of one of the peripheral pulmonary arterial branches—12 per cent; (5) Mild central narrowing at the bifurcation of the main pulmonary trunk causing apparent dilatation of the main branches—10 per cent. The importance of differentiating between these above findings is pointed out.