Diagnosis of inferior sinus venosus atrial septal defects using transthoracic three-dimensional echocardiography.
The authors report the cases of 2 patients with symptoms and signs related to severe pulmonary hypertension. Two-dimensional echocardiography demonstrated defects in the posterior portion of the atrial septum. Transthoracic three-dimensional echocardiography clearly showed inferior sinus venosus atrial septal defects and their relationships with the inferior vena cava, the pulmonary vein, and the muscular border of the fossa ovalis. These 2 cases not only elucidate the potential value of transthoracic three-dimensional echocardiography in delineating the structural characteristics of unusual interatrial shunting but also remind clinicians to be aware of this potentially treatable cardiac defect during workup for pulmonary hypertension.
Chen
Chun-An
CA
Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. chenca@ntu.edu.tw
Wang
Jou-Kou
JK
Hsu
Jui-Yu
JY
Hsu
Hsao-Hsun
HH
Chen
Shyh-Jye
SJ
Wu
Mei-Hwan
MH
D004452:Echocardiography; D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications*