Assessment of Cor Triatriatum Dexter and Giant Eustachian Valve With Cardiac Magnetic Resonance

Abstract

A 56-year-old man with symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) was referred to our arrhythmia center for pulmonary vein isolation by catheter ablation. The patient underwent routine transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and cardiac magnetic resonance (MR) examination before the catheter ablation. The cardiac MR examination consisted of time-resolved (4-dimensional) contrast-enhanced MR angiography (TR-MRA), cine imaging with steady-state free precession, and 3-dimensional (3D) late gadolinium enhancement (3D-LGE) sequences. In assessments of cardiac function and thrombus (Figure 1), the TEE image demonstrated the nodular structure adhering to the interatrial septum of right atrium (RA). The cine image revealed a thin membrane dividing the RA into 2 chambers. The proximal and distal chambers of RA were connected to the inferior vena cava (IVC) and superior vena cava (SVC), respectively. The TR-MRA ( Figure 2) showed a strongly enhanced distal chamber of RA with restriction of contrast media distribution and an unenhanced proximal chamber RA on the multiple phases of contrast dynamics. The reformatted 3D LGE images (Figure 3) showed a thin and high septum from the eustachian valve (EV) between the IVC and coronary sinus (CS) orifices and an enlargement of IVC and hepatic vein (HV). Sequentially, a catheter-based conventional angiography (Figure 4) was performed for further evaluation of RA. The septum from the EV disrupted the catheter approach to the CS in the cardiac intervention session.The cor triatriatum dexter (CTD) is characterized by the presence of a fibromuscular membrane dividing the RA into proximal and distal chambers and is rarely found in adults. 1The EV takes the form of a thin ridge-like crescent and generally arises from the anterior rim of the IVC orifice.2 If its structure and attachment to the atrial septum are large and high enough to define the giant EV, it can give the appearance of CTD. With advanced technique, cardiac MR imaging for the RA especially has become increasingly important to provide a preprocedural roadmap for necessary intervention. TR-MRA involves rapid sequential imaging of an anatomic volume during the dynamic intravascular passage of a contrast bolus and enables the identification of complex vascular flow kinetics. 3 LGE imaging has been widely used for assessing the viability of myocardium because it permits clear visualization of myocardial fibrosis. Furthermore, the use of 3D LGE sequence permits acquisition of entire heart data in a single scan and viewing of any desired plane of the heart by reconstruction of the acquired 3D data. 4In summary, we described a rare case of CTD and a giant EV using TEE and cardiac MR examination, which consisted of TR-MRA, cine, and 3D LGE images for preparation of catheter ablation. The knowledge of various cardiac MR findings in the assessment of RA structures may lead to proper cardiac intervention in the necessary of CS approach. DisclosuresNone. References1. Ozeke O, Celik A, Basel MC. Cor triatriatum dexter and sinister appearance c...

Surgical management of divided atrial chambers

“…On M‐mode echocardiography, the lesion can present as a cloud of echoes penetrating the right ventricle during diastole. Due to improved diagnostic accuracy with saline contrast echocardiography, there is now an increase in its reported frequency 51–57 . Magnetic resonance imaging is now recognized as a modality with which to delineate the arrangement of the persisting valves of the systemic venous sinus.…”

“…Due to improved diagnostic accuracy with saline contrast echocardiography, there is now an increase in its reported frequency. [51][52][53][54][55][56][57] Magnetic resonance imaging is now recognized as a modality with which to delineate the arrangement of the persisting valves of the systemic venous sinus. It provides the gold standard for the assessment of ventricular volumes.…”

Optimal Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Contrast-Enhanced Timing Robust Angiography (CMR-CENTRA) for the Three-Dimensional Reconstruction of the Bilateral Atria in the Electroanatomic Mapping (EAM) of Atrial Fibrillation

“…The RA receives the inferior and superior vena cava and the orifice of the coronary sinus (15,16). When the contrast media is injected into the cubital vein, it initially enters the RA through the superior vena cava (17). Therefore, the initial combination of opacified and non-opacified blood from the systemic veins interrupts the homogenous contrast enhancement in the RA chamber (15,17).…”

“…When the contrast media is injected into the cubital vein, it initially enters the RA through the superior vena cava (17). Therefore, the initial combination of opacified and non-opacified blood from the systemic veins interrupts the homogenous contrast enhancement in the RA chamber (15,17). In other words, the homogeneous contrast enhancement of the RA can be achieved with the opacified blood drained from both the inferior and superior vena cava.…”

Cor Triatriatum: A Review

“…CTD should be differentiated from the large eustichian valve, chiari network, and thebesian valve. 73,74 Several diagnostic modalities have been found to be useful in diagnosing cor triatriatum such as transthoracic echocardiography, transesophageal echocardiography, computed tomography, catheter angiography, and magnetic resonance imaging. Transthoracic echocardiography is very helpful in making a definitive diagnosis and the procedure of choice to detect cor triatriatum and associated cardiac lesions.…”