[Calcification of the left atrium in mitral disease]

Calcification in the wall of the left atrium is a certain sign of rheumatic heart disease; in nearly all cases it is associated with combined mitral valve disease and auricular fibrillation. The cause of the calcification is probably repeated attacks of endocarditis. Similar to the cases described in the literature, four out of five our own patients were in the end-stages of chronic rheumatic heart disease. In four patients there was clinical evidence of mitral valve disease, whereas in the fifth patient, the clinical findings suggested a ventricular septal defect. Calcification in the dilated left atrium indicated the presence of an additional mitral valve abnormality. The typical appearances of atrial calcification are illustrated. The importance of its pre-operative demonstration is discussed on the basis of the relevant literature.