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
Comparative Study
. 2012 Jul-Aug;6(4):268-73.
doi: 10.1016/j.jcct.2012.02.004. Epub 2012 Jun 5.

Prevalence of left atrial anatomical abnormalities in patients with recurrent atrial fibrillation compared with patients in sinus rhythm using multi-slice CT

Affiliations
Comparative Study

Prevalence of left atrial anatomical abnormalities in patients with recurrent atrial fibrillation compared with patients in sinus rhythm using multi-slice CT

Olga Lazoura et al. J Cardiovasc Comput Tomogr. 2012 Jul-Aug.

Abstract

Background: Enlargement of the LA is known to increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) and its associated complications. However, the relation between other left atrial (LA) anatomical abnormalities and the risk of developing AF is less well described.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of LA anatomical abnormalities between a group of patients with recurrent AF and a group of patients in sinus rhythm (SR) with the use of cardiac computed tomography (CT).

Methods: The cardiac CT prevalence, location, and size of LA accessory appendages and diverticula were assessed in 200 patients with recurrent AF referred for radiofrequency catheter ablation and compared with a control group of 200 patients in SR.

Results: The prevalence and mean length and width for diverticula were 23.5%, 8.1 mm, and 8.1 mm, in the AF group and 20.5%, 7.8 mm, and 7.2 mm in the SR group, respectively, and for accessory appendages 6.5%, 8 mm, and 6.3 mm in the AF group and 6.5%, 9.4 mm, and 5.7 mm in the SR group, respectively. In both groups, the most common location for a diverticulum or an accessory appendage was the right anterosuperior LA wall. The prevalence, location, and size of accessory appendages and diverticula were not significantly different (P > 0.05) between cohorts.

Conclusion: This study found no difference in the prevalence and anatomic characteristics of LA accessory appendages and diverticula between patients in recurrent AF and patients in SR.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

Cited by

Publication types

MeSH terms