Unusual case of left ventricular pseudoaneurysm
Giuseppina Novo1, Massimo Midiri, Giovanni Fazio
1Department of Cardiology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy. novog@unipa.it
Summary
A rare left ventricular pseudoaneurysm formed a chest wall mass in a patient with prior heart surgery. This cardiac complication required advanced imaging for diagnosis and management.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Patient history includes anterior myocardial infarction, triple coronary artery bypass graft, and left ventricular (LV) aneurysmectomy.
- Presented with chest pain and a palpable pulsing mass in the left chest wall.
Observation:
- Physical examination revealed a pulsatile mass in the left chest wall.
- Cardiac multislice computed tomography (CT) was utilized for detailed imaging.
Findings:
- Diagnosis of a rare left ventricular pseudoaneurysm measuring 6.3 x 6 x 10 cm.
- A 1 cm fistulous tract connected the pseudoaneurysm to the left anterior chest wall.
- Resulting subfascial mass measured 7.1 x 3.6 cm.
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of advanced imaging in diagnosing rare cardiac complications.
- Underscores potential long-term risks following coronary artery bypass graft and LV aneurysmectomy.
- Emphasizes the need for prompt recognition of chest wall masses in cardiac patients.
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