Absent right and persistent left superior vena cava without other congenital anomaly: a rare combination diagnosed by transesophageal echocardiography.
A 70-year old man with a history of anorexia, weight loss, and progressive shortness of breath was studied by transesophageal echocardiography. In addition to a mass occupying the right ventricular outflow tract, a rare congenital heart anomaly was discovered serendipitously: persistent left superior vena cava, absent right superior vena cava, and no other congenital abnormality. The echocardiographic findings were confirmed by computed tomographic scanning and later during heart surgery performed to resect the malignant tumor.
Konecky
N
N
Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, NY 10016, USA.
Freedberg
R S
RS
McCauley
D
D
Kronzon
I
I
D000368:Aged; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012208:Rhabdomyosarcoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014262:Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014683:Vena Cava, Superior / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014694:Ventricular Outflow Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging