Noncongenital Ventricular Septal Defects: A Pictorial Review

The purpose of this article was to review the pathophysiology, imaging features, and imaging pitfalls of noncongenital ventricular septal defects (VSDs). Noncongenital VSDs can result from ischemic heart disease, trauma, infection, and iatrogenic causes. Ischemic VSDs typically involve the posterior descending or left anterior descending vascular territories and are commonly seen in the apical septum or basal-mid inferoseptum. VSDs can also occur in patients with infectious endocarditis or as a complication following cardiac surgery. Most of these involve the membranous portion of the interventricular septum. Traumatic VSDs are rare and commonly involve the mid to apical anteroseptum. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging can accurately characterize the morphologic features of the defects and associated imaging findings.