title: Cardiac varix in relation to right atrial free wall presenting as a mass compressing the right atrium and mimicking a pericardial cyst.
abstract: Cardiac varix is a rare entity. It is generally small and is in relation to the interatrial septum, often mistaken as cardiac myxoma. A 19-year-old girl, on evaluation of respiratory infection, was found to have a mass compressing the right atrium. Computed tomographic scan and magnetic resonance imaging suggested a differential diagnosis of pericardial cyst or hydatid cyst. Peroperatively, a large (8 x 6.5 x 5.5 cm) cystic lesion in relation to the right atrial free wall was found. The histopathology of the resected mass revealed it to be a cardiac varix. The case is notable for its large size and its location in relation to the right atrial free wall.
authors.affiliation: Apollo Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. dr-oomman@lycos.com
authors.forename: Abraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oomman
authors.forename: Panchapakesan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ramachandran
authors.forename: Rajan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Santhosham
authors.forename: Louis Felix
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Sridhar
authors.forename: Binu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ramesh
authors.forename: Samy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jayaraman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008476:Mediastinal Cyst / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000175:diagnosis*