Cardiac varix in relation to right atrial free wall presenting as a mass compressing the right atrium and mimicking a pericardial cyst.
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.
Oomman
Abraham
A
Apollo Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. dr-oomman@lycos.com
Ramachandran
Panchapakesan
P
Santhosham
Rajan
R
Sridhar
Louis Felix
LF
Ramesh
Binu
B
Jayaraman
Samy
S
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*