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Echocardiographic Evaluation of Atrial Communications before Transcatheter Closure
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Systemic arterial collateral esophageal indentations in pseudotruncus arteriosus
S C Comerci1, W E Berdon, C Ruzal-Shapiro
1Department of Radiology, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, Babies & Children's Hospital, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Pediatric Radiology
|January 1, 1995
Summary
Congenital heart disease, specifically pseudotruncus arteriosus type I, can cause vascular indentations on the esophagus. These esophageal indentations, seen on barium esophagrams, result from aorto-pulmonary communicating arteries.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Radiology
- Pediatric Cardiology
Background:
- Congenital heart disease (CHD) can present with complex anatomical variations.
- Pseudotruncus arteriosus type I is a severe form of CHD involving abnormal great arteries.
- Respiratory symptoms can sometimes be associated with CHD in pediatric patients.
Observation:
- Barium esophagrams were performed on two patients presenting with respiratory issues.
- These patients had an underlying diagnosis of pseudotruncus arteriosus type I.
- Esophageal indentations, both anterior and posterior, were identified during the esophagram.
Findings:
- The observed esophageal indentations were directly related to vascular structures.
- Specifically, the indentations were caused by aorto-pulmonary communicating arteries.
- These communicating arteries originated from the descending aorta.
Implications:
- Barium esophagrams can reveal esophageal compression secondary to vascular anomalies in CHD.
- This finding highlights the importance of considering vascular causes for esophageal indentations in patients with known or suspected CHD.
- Radiological imaging like esophagrams aids in the diagnosis and understanding of complex CHD manifestations.
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