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Cor triatriatum dextrum
Insights
Cor triatriatum dextrum, a rare heart anomaly, was incidentally found in two asymptomatic children. Its long-term clinical significance, including potential arrhythmia or venous return issues, remains uncertain.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Congenital Heart Disease
Background:
- Cor triatriatum dextrum is a rare congenital heart anomaly where the right atrium is divided by a membrane.
- Historically, symptomatic cases often involve associated cardiac anomalies or persistent sinus venosus valves.
- Echocardiography is a key diagnostic tool for identifying this condition.
Observation:
- Two pediatric patients, a 5-year-old boy and a 9-year-old girl, presented with heart murmurs.
- Echocardiographic evaluation revealed incidental findings of cor triatriatum dextrum in both children.
- Both patients exhibited normal cardiac structures apart from slightly enlarged right atria and were asymptomatic.
Findings:
- The incidental finding of asymptomatic cor triatriatum dextrum is uncommon.
- Unlike previously reported symptomatic cases, these patients had no structural heart anomalies or persistent sinus venosus valves.
- The right atria were mildly enlarged in both affected children.
Implications:
- The clinical significance of asymptomatic cor triatriatum dextrum is currently conjectural.
- Potential long-term risks may include the development of cardiac arrhythmias.
- Further monitoring might be necessary to assess risks of impaired systemic venous return and thrombus formation.
Abstract:
Cor triatriatum dextrum was an incidental echocardiographic finding in a 5 year old boy and a 9 year old girl, who were evaluated for the presence of a heart murmur. Apart from slightly enlarged right atria, they had otherwise normal hearts and were symptomless. Most of the patients reported until then had been symptomatic due either to the persistent right sinus venosus valve or to commonly associated structural heart anomalies. Therefore, the clinical significance of asymptomatic cor triatriatum dextrum remains coniectural, but might lie in the possibility of development of arrhythmia, progressively worsening interference with the systemic venous return and thrombus formation.