Incidentally Found, Growing Congenital Aneurysm of the Left Atrium.
10.3346/jkms.2003.18.2.262
- Author:
Jong Seon PARK
1
;
Dong Hyup LEE
;
Seung Se HAN
;
Mi Jin KIM
;
Dong Gu SHIN
;
Young Jo KIM
;
Bong Sup SHIM
Author Information
1. Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yeungnam University Hospital, Daegu, Korea. pjs@medical.yeungnam.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Heart Aneurysm;
Atrial Appendage
- MeSH:
Adult;
Echocardiography;
Female;
Heart Aneurysm/congenital*;
Heart Aneurysm/pathology*;
Heart Aneurysm/surgery;
Heart Aneurysm/ultrasonography;
Heart Atria/pathology*;
Heart Atria/surgery;
Heart Atria/ultrasonography;
Human
- From:Journal of Korean Medical Science
2003;18(2):262-266
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
A left atrial aneurysm is a very rare cardiac anomaly that usually develops in the left atrial appendage. It usually develops congenitally, and has a risk of life-threatening complications. Here, we report a case of a growing aneurysm of the left atrium that was incidentally found in a 42-yr-old woman. Eighteen years prior, an abnormal cardiomegaly was found on a chest radiography for a pre-operative study. The chest radiography at this time demonstrated a more prominent cardiomegaly than the previous radiography findings. The left atrial aneurysm was diagnosed by echocardiography and cardiac catheterization. Although asymptomatic, she underwent a successful surgical excision to allay the possibilities of rupture, arrhythmia, heart failure, or thromboembolism. The surgical findings demonstrated an 8 x 15 cm sized saccular aneurysm at the left atrial appendage, and the pathologic findings showed three myocardial layers. The patient has been asymptomatic during the 15 months of follow-up. In conclusion, a congenital left atrial aneurysm can grow with time, even in asymptomatic cases, and an aneurysmectomy is a curative treatment, which can eliminate the potential complications.
