[Radioisotope angiography in the differential diagnosis between aneurysm and pseudoaneurysm of left ventricle. Report of a case]

Abstract

We describe the case of a patient with large posteroinferior left ventricular aneurysm following myocardial infarction. Contrast ventriculography, Doppler echocardiography, as well as radionuclide angiography indicated a small orifice that was in communication with the ventricular cavity. These data suggested the presence of left ventricular pseudoaneurysm. Thus a short-term surgical intervention was performed, but the diagnosis was not confirmed by surgical observation; indeed the presence of a true aneurysm was demonstrated. Our study confirms the diagnostic difficulties by invasive and non invasive techniques in the precise identification of postinfarct pseudoaneurysm. This observation suggests the remarkable interest of our radionuclide ventriculographic results, not usually observed. Thus, we point out the possibilities of several nuclear cardiology imaging in the study of diagnostic problems concerning the analysis of these conditions of myocardial pathology.