Oesophageal phlebectasis in an infant with pulmonary venous obstruction owing to a congenital heart defect.

Clinical findings and postmortem examination of a newborn infant are reported. Prominent features were a complex congenital heart defect ("pre-mature closure of foramen ovale", with mitral and aortic atresia), causing severe obstruction to pulmonary venous return, pulmonary lymphangiectasis and oesophageal phlebectasis. The occurrence of oesophageal phlebectasis in infants with congenital pulmonary venous obstruction is reviewed and the pathogenesis discussed.