A cardiovascular cause of hematemesis

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Congenital Heart Disease
• Cardiac Anatomy

Background:

• Cor triatriatum is a rare congenital heart anomaly characterized by a fibromuscular membrane dividing the left atrium.
• In typical cor triatriatum, all pulmonary veins drain into the accessory chamber.
• This anatomical variation presents unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe an unusual variant of cor triatriatum.
• To highlight the atypical pulmonary venous drainage pattern in this specific case.
• To contribute to the understanding of congenital heart defect variations.

Main Methods:

• Case report presentation.
• Review of relevant cardiac anatomy and embryology.
• Discussion of diagnostic imaging findings (e.g., echocardiography, MRI).

Main Results:

• The patient presented with an anomalous fibromuscular septum within the left atrium.
• Unlike typical cor triatriatum, only the right-sided pulmonary veins entered the accessory chamber.
• The left-sided pulmonary veins entered the anatomically true left atrium.

Conclusions:

• This case represents a rare variant of cor triatriatum with incomplete pulmonary venous incorporation into the accessory chamber.
• Understanding such variations is crucial for accurate diagnosis and surgical planning.
• Further research into the spectrum of cor triatriatum is warranted.