Right- and left-sided interatrial septal aneurysm mimicking atrial tumor and stroke

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Updated: Oct 28, 2026

Echocardiographic Evaluation of Atrial Communications before Transcatheter Closure
07:41

Echocardiographic Evaluation of Atrial Communications before Transcatheter Closure

Published on: February 8, 2022

H R Malaterre1, K Kallee, J C Deharo

  • 1Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Marseille, Hôpital de la Conception, France.

Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography : Official Publication of the American Society of Echocardiography
|August 27, 1998
PubMed

Insights

Two patients with cerebral embolization had interatrial septal aneurysms. These aneurysms mimicked tumors but were incidental findings, not the cause of stroke.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Neurology
  • Radiology

Background:

  • Cerebral embolization is a significant cause of stroke.
  • Interatrial septal aneurysms are uncommon cardiac findings.
  • Distinguishing true cardiac masses from incidental findings is crucial for stroke etiology.

Observation:

  • Two patients presenting with stroke underwent transesophageal echocardiography.
  • Case 1 revealed a right-sided interatrial septal aneurysm and internal carotid artery stenosis.
  • Case 2 showed a left-sided interatrial septal aneurysm and aortic arch atheroma.

Findings:

  • Interatrial septal aneurysms in both patients mimicked atrial cystic tumors or abscesses.
  • Neither interatrial septal aneurysm was identified as the cause of cerebral embolization.
  • The aneurysms were considered incidental findings in the context of stroke.

Implications:

  • This case series highlights the importance of comprehensive stroke workup beyond apparent cardiac abnormalities.
  • It emphasizes the differential diagnosis of atrial masses, including distinguishing aneurysms from tumors or abscesses.
  • Understanding incidental findings like interatrial septal aneurysms is key to accurate stroke cause determination.

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