Congenital absence of pericardium as unusual cause of T wave abnormalities in a young athlete.
The congenital absence of pericardium is a rare condition which may determine electrocardiographic ST-T abnormalities. The case of a 16-year-old athlete who presented T-wave abnormalities at standard electrocardiogram performed during a physical checkup is reported. Ventricular repolarization tended to normalize during exercise and in right lateral decubitus. Chest x-ray and echocardiography showed typical signs of complete absence of the left pericardium. The definite diagnosis was made by computer tomography (CT) scan. The importance of a complete investigation of athletes with T-wave abnormalities is emphasized. Diagnostic and therapeutic features of the congenital absence of pericardium are discussed.
Di Pasquale
G
G
Department of Cardiology, Bellaria Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
Ruffini
M
M
Piolanti
S
S
Gambari
P I
PI
Roversi
R
R
Pinelli
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010496:Pericardium / Q000002:abnormalities*; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed