IntroductionAlthough calcification of the left atrium is relatively common in the setting of long-lasting rheumatic valve disease, massive calcification of the left atrium, also known as ''porcelain atrium [1],'' ''coconut atrium [2], '' or ''mold-like calcification [3],'' is a rare condition. The left atrial calcification is described as a high-density ring encircling the left atrium on chest X-ray. Noncontrast computed tomographic (CT) scan of the thorax reveals deposition of calcification in the wall of the left atrium. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first case report for precise histopathological evaluation of rheumatic massive left atrial calcification by autopsy specimen.
Case reportAn 84-year-old woman had been treated by our cardiology department with congestive heart failure as an outpatient. Her medical history revealed rheumatic valvulopathy and surgery of mitral-aortic valve replacement to mechanical heart valves, the St. Jude bileaflet valves in 1979 in another institution. Replacements of dysfunctioning prostheses to the St. Jude valves were performed in 1992 and 2000. More recently, she had implanted VVI pacemaker due to atrial fibrillation-related bradycardia in 2008. Warfarin treatment indicated prothrombin time-international normalized ratio 1.2-1.4 during her outpatient therapy. Chronic renal failure was pointed out and her estimated glomerular filtration rate was 45-55 ml/min/1.73 m 2 . She was admitted to our hospital due to worsening of congestive heart failure. Chest roentgenogram showed severe cardiomegaly with rim of calcification outlining the enlarged left atrium (Fig. 1A). Echocardiography revealed enlarged left atrium A B S T R A C T Massive calcification of the left atrium is an uncommon complication of long-standing rheumatic valve disease, and is frequently revealed in patients with a previous operation on the mitral valve. An 84-yearold woman, who had a history of rheumatic valvulopathy and mitral-aortic valve replacement surgery 35 years previously, was admitted to our hospital due to congestive heart failure. Chest X-ray showed severe cardiomegaly with rim of calcification outlining the enlarged left atrium. Computed tomographic scan of the thorax clearly illustrated dense and partially thick plate-like calcification of left atrial free wall and interatrial septum. She died due to congestive heart failure 14 days after hospitalization and an autopsy was performed. Enlargement of left atrium with massive calcification was evident by gross pathology. Thick plate-like calcification with both erosion and mural hemorrhage was clearly shown by a cross-section of atrial wall. Organized and fresh fibrin thrombi were identified at the surface of left atrium. Calcified tissue penetrated into the wall of the left atrium and lack of myocardium underneath the massive calcified lesion was evident. Although rheumatic calcification of left atrium revealed by medical images was previously described, this is the first case report that demonstrates histopathological evaluation of massi...