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Congenital intrathoracic left ventricular diverticulum in an adult

C Suilen1, B Friedli, W Rutishauser

  • 1University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland.

Chest
|September 1, 1990
PubMed

Insights

A rare congenital heart defect, left ventricular diverticulum, was found in an adult woman with no risk factors. Surgical resection confirmed normal cardiac layers, highlighting its extreme rarity in adults.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Congenital Heart Disease
  • Cardiac Surgery

Background:

  • Congenital heart anomalies are typically diagnosed in childhood.
  • Intrathoracic left ventricular diverticulum is an exceptionally rare congenital cardiac malformation.

Observation:

  • A 53-year-old woman presented with an incidentally discovered intrathoracic left ventricular diverticulum.
  • The diverticulum had a narrow, elongated connection to the left ventricular cavity.
  • The patient had no traditional risk factors for coronary artery disease.

Findings:

  • Coronary angiography demonstrated normal coronary arteries, ruling out ischemic causes.
  • Surgical resection of the diverticulum revealed intact, normal cardiac layers (endocardium, myocardium, epicardium).
  • Histopathological examination confirmed the absence of pathological changes within the diverticulum wall.

Implications:

  • This case underscores that congenital heart anomalies can remain undiagnosed into adulthood.
  • The successful resection and identification of normal cardiac layers in this rare adult presentation offer valuable insights for surgical planning.
  • Further research into the embryology and long-term implications of such rare adult congenital cardiac findings is warranted.

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