Case report: the 'vanished' left pulmonary artery.

Ductal origin of pulmonary artery is a rare vascular anomaly characterized by continuity of the left or right pulmonary artery (PA) with the distal end of the arterial duct, and discontinuity with the main PA. It is commonly misdiagnosed as pulmonary artery agenesis when the patent arterial duct constricts, with cessation of blood flow into the affected pulmonary artery. A high index of suspicion is necessary for diagnosis of DOPA. Once diagnosed, this lesion is clearly amenable to intervention, with benefits from unifocalization, to prevent late onset pulmonary hypertension or cardiac failure.