Cor triatriatum sinister is a rare congenital condition in which the left atrium is partitioned into two chambers by a fibromuscular membrane. The role of echocardiography is to determine whether the membrane is found to be obstructive or nonobstructive, which, in addition to patient symptoms, will determine surgical intervention. Although 2D transthoracic echocardiography (2DTTE) and 2D transesophageal echocardiography (2DTEE) are the tests of choice for the assessment of function and physiology, evaluation of specific structures may be limited. With the use of 3D transesophageal echocardiography (3DTEE), we were able to delineate the anatomical features of the membrane in a comprehensive way not possible by conventional 2D imaging. In addition, crossmodality comparison with cardiac computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a linear structure located in the left atrium consistent with the echocardiographic findings. To our knowledge, this is the first report of two cases of nonobstructive and obstructive cor triatriatum sinister evaluated by multiple imaging modalities, including 3DTEE.
Case 1 (Nonobstructive Cor Triatriatum Sinister)A 66-year-old man with known nonobstructive cor triatriatum sinister and a history of recent biological aortic valve 475087J DMXXX10.1177/8756479312475087Journ al of Diagnostic Medical SonographyWalling et al
AbstractCor triatriatum sinister is a rare congenital condition in which the left atrium is partitioned into two chambers by a fibromuscular membrane. Two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography and 2D transesophageal echocardiography are the standard tests of choice for the assessment of function and physiology, although with complex pathology, evaluation of specific structures may be limited. We are reporting the additional use of 3D transesophageal echocardiography to delineate the anatomical features of the membrane in a comprehensive way not possible by conventional 2D imaging.
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