Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Case Reports
. 2010 Mar 9:8:4.
doi: 10.1186/1476-7120-8-4.

Cor triatriatum and lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum in the elderly: a case report

Pier Paolo Bassareo  1 , Roberto Tumbarello, Giuseppe Mercuro
Affiliations
Case Reports

Cor triatriatum and lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum in the elderly: a case report

Pier Paolo Bassareo et al. Cardiovasc Ultrasound. .

Abstract

Cor triatriatum is a rare congenital heart defect characterized by the presence of a fibromuscular membrane dividing the left atrium into two distinct chambers. Lipomatous hypertrophy of the atrial septum is an infrequently observed benign abnormality caused by large fatty tissue deposits in the interatrial septum. An increased incidence of atrial arrhythmias is described in both pathologies, while a significant obstruction of blood flow mimicking mitral stenosis is typically manifested in cor triatriatum. We report the case of a 75-year-old woman with a previously undescribed association of the above stated abnormalities detected by both transthoracic and transeosophageal echocardiography. Diagnosis was confirmed by means of computed tomography. The singular physiologic and anatomic factors underlying survival until such a late age are described. The diagnostic, therapeutic and surgical management is discussed and a short review of the literature performed.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Chest antero-posterior X-ray.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Transthoracic echocardiogram: apical 4-chamber view showing a fibromuscular membrane subdividing the left atrium into proximal and distal chambers (PANEL A). Lipomatosis of the interatrial septum, with the typical "dumbbell" aspect is evident as well (PANEL B and C).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Transoesophageal echocardiogram: turbulent colour flow across the diaphragm in the left atrium, suggestive of an insufficiency from a single central opening.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Detection by computed tomography of lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Three dimensional reconstruction of computed tomography shows the fibromuscular membrane dividing the left atrium into two distinct chambers.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Jegier W, Gibbons JE, Wiglesworth FW. Cor triatriatum: clinical, hemodynamic and pathological studies surgical correction in early life. Pediatrics. 1963;31:255–267. - PubMed
    1. Church WS. Congenital malformation of the heart: abnormal septum in the left auricle. Trans Pathol Soc Lond. 1868;19:188–190.
    1. van Son JA, Danielson GK, Schaff HV, Puga FJ, Seward JB, Hagler DJ, Mair DD. Cor triatriatum: diagnosis, operative approach and late results. Mayo Clin Proc. 1993;68:854–859. - PubMed
    1. Rodefeld MD, Brown JW, Heimansohn DA, King H, Girod DA, Hurwitz RA, Caldwell RL. Cor triatriatum: clinical presentation and surgical results in 12 patients. Ann Thorac Surg. 1990;50:562–568. - PubMed
    1. Loeffler E. Unusual malformation in the left atrium: pulmonary sinus. Arch Pathol. 1949;48:371–376. - PubMed

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources