Composite resection of the left upper lobe and superior segment (S6) of the lower lobe for lung cancer with a mediastinal lingular and basal pulmonary artery

BACKGROUND: Preoperative evaluation and awareness of anatomical variations in the pulmonary vessel is essential for a secure pulmonary resection. We herein present a patient who underwent complex pulmonary resection for lung cancer with a mediastinal lingular and basal pulmonary artery that had been detected by preoperative three-dimensional computed tomography. CASE PRESENTATION: The patient was an asymptomatic 66-year-old woman who had a 39-pack-year smoking habit. Chest computed tomography (CT) revealed the tumor invading the left upper bronchus and pulmonary artery branches in the left upper lung lobe. Enhanced CT and three-dimensional (3D) images of the pulmonary artery revealed that pulmonary artery branches (A4 + 5, A8, and A9 + 10) were extending into the lingular and basal segment in ventral side of the left upper bronchus. We completed the resection by means of a composite resection of the left upper lobe and the superior segment of the lower lobe, avoiding pulmonary angioplasty to preserve the left lower lobe or pneumonectomy. CONCLUSIONS: 3D-CT is useful for detecting this rare variation of the left pulmonary artery before operation, allowing for proper resection. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1186/s40792-018-0445-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.