Giant congenital intrapericardial left atrial aneurysm diagnosed by contrast-enhanced computed tomography

K Taori1, A Deshmukh, R Sanyal

  • 1Department of Radiodiagnosis, Government Medical College H, Nagpur, India. kishortaori@yahoo.co.in

Insights

A rare cardiac anomaly, left atrial aneurysm, can be congenital or acquired. This case highlights its detection via chest radiography and confirmation with computed tomography.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Radiology
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Left atrial aneurysm is a rare cardiac anomaly.
  • Etiology is typically congenital but can be acquired due to mitral valve disease or degeneration.

Observation:

  • A routine PA chest radiograph revealed cardiomegaly.
  • A bulge on the left cardiac contour was noted.

Findings:

  • Contrast-enhanced computed tomography confirmed a large left atrial aneurysm.
  • This imaging modality is crucial for accurate diagnosis.

Implications:

  • Early detection of left atrial aneurysm is vital.
  • Understanding its varied presentation aids diagnosis.

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