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Updated: Oct 21, 2026

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Published on: July 17, 2014
[Corrected transposition of the great vessels associated with severe pulmonary stenosis in a 59-year-old man]
Insights
Corrected transposition of the great arteries (CTGA) is rare in adults over 50. This case highlights that CTGA can present with heart failure in later life, even with other cardiac issues.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Congenital Heart Disease
Background:
- Corrected transposition of the great arteries (CTGA) is a rare congenital heart defect.
- It is infrequently diagnosed in adults, especially those over 50.
Observation:
- A 59-year-old man presented with heart failure.
- Cardiac catheterization revealed CTGA with severe pulmonary valve stenosis.
Findings:
- CTGA, even with associated anomalies like pulmonary valve stenosis, can remain asymptomatic until adulthood.
- Late presentation of CTGA is often due to congestive heart failure.
Implications:
- This case underscores that CTGA can be a relatively benign condition with late manifestation.
- Adults presenting with heart failure should be evaluated for potentially undiagnosed congenital heart defects like CTGA.
Abstract:
The case of a 59-year-old man with corrected transposition of the great arteries (CTGA) is reported. This anomaly is rare in adult patients, uncommon in patients over 50. Most of the cases with CTGA are diagnosed in childhood because of associated cardiac abnormalities. When isolated or complicated by other mild anomalies, CTGA can cause no symptoms until adult life or can even go unrecognized. However, most of these patients present with congestive heart failure when they are 40 or 50 years old. Our patient was admitted to the hospital because of heart failure. Cardiac catheterization and selective angiography demonstrated a CTGA associated with severe pulmonary valve stenosis. The case here reported shows that CTGA even when associated with other cardiac abnormalities, can be a relatively benign lesion, and can be revealed in adult life by signs of cardiac failure.
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