Cor Triatriatum Evaluated by Real Time 3D TEE

Abstract

We present two cases of cor triatriatum, a rare congenital anomaly that consists of a membrane that divides the left atrium into two chambers. The first case involves an older adult man admitted for evaluation of left-sided weakness attributed to stroke. The second is a case of a middle-aged woman with dyspnea. Both patients had transthoracic echocardiograms as a part of their initial evaluation, which revealed abnormal structures in the left atrium, and both subsequently underwent transesophageal echocardiography. During these exams, real-time 3D imaging was utilized to more completely define the pathology.

Incidental finding of aberrant mitral valve chorda during a transesophageal echocardiography evaluation for suspected endocarditis

“…Aberrant mitral valve chordae should be differentiated from cor triatriatum sinister, which is a fibromuscular membrane believed to develop from failure of resorption of the common pulmonary vein resulting in division of the left atrium into two chambers, and endocarditis, or tumors, which present as masses with independent motion . Several features of the TEE support the diagnosis of aberrant mitral chorda.…”

Multimodality Imaging of Cor Triatriatum Sinister in an Octagenerian

“…In fact, 3D echocardiography is the only diagnostic tool which allows direct visualization and planimetric measurement of the fenestrations. Finally, it provides additional information to cardiologists and surgeons by showing how the malformation is related to the residual parts of the heart . Cardiac CT and MRI provide better spatial resolution and superior tissue contrast compared with echocardiography …”

“…Finally, it provides additional information to cardiologists and surgeons by showing how the malformation is related to the residual parts of the heart. [3][4][5] Cardiac CT and MRI provide better spatial resolution and superior tissue contrast compared with echocardiography. [6][7][8] The physiologic consequences of CTS are directly related to the size of the orifice between the accessory and the true chamber.…”

Usefulness of intraoperative real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography in preprocedural evaluation of cortriatriatum -a case report-

“…The real-time 3D echocardiography is especially beneficial in evaluating cardiac structures located near to TEE probe with favorable alignment (perpendicular to sonographic beam), such as MV and LA [3]. Even a single "en face" image from real-time 3D TEE would be able to present a true anatomic perspective of objective cardiac structures which had been shown in this case, and understanding of the detailed structures much easier and faster [2,4,5]. Preoperative 3D TTE as well as other imaging modalities, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging or Computed Tomography scan, might be useful in evaluating full-spectrum of cortriatriatum as a provider of additional 3D information.…”