PMC10449248_01
Imaging of left atrial appendage aneurysm. (A) Initial chest x-ray showing an unusual contour along the left heart border. (B) Transthoracic echocardiography short-axis sweep with colour doppler demonstrating a cavity adjacent to and potentially communicating with the left atrium. (C) Magnetic resonance imaging revealing the LAAA, and compressing the left ventricular anterior and anteroseptal walls. (D) Post-operative image of the resected LAAA measuring 5.9 x 3.1 x 1.9 cm. AO, aorta; LA, left atrium; LAAA, left atrial appendage aneurysm; PV, pulmonary valve.
fcvm-10-1211619-g001.jpg
PMC10449248_01_fcvm-10-1211619-g001.jpg
F1
An otherwise healthy 6-year-old boy was referred to pediatric cardiology due to an incidentally discovered abnormal cardiac silhouette on a chest x-ray performed during an investigation of scarlet fever with cough (Figure 1A). Subsequent baseline echocardiography showed a giant LAAA with otherwise regular heart structure, size, and function (Figure 1B) (Supplementary Data Sheet S1). This was later confirmed with magnetic resonance imaging, which also showed mild compression of the left ventricular anterior and anteroseptal walls (Figure 1C). Pathology revealed an appendage measuring 5.9 x 3.1 x 1.9 cm, without blood clots (Figure 1D).