title: An unnatural history of left ventricular pseudoaneurysm?
abstract: We report the case of a 79-year-old woman with a history of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia and purulent pericarditis with subsequent subxiphoid pericardiostomy and formation of a large left ventricular pseudoaneurysm (LVPA) that has been medically managed. Long-term survival after pseudoaneurysm formation has traditionally been thought to be unusual without operative intervention. Computed tomography (CT), three-dimensional reconstructed CT, and echocardiographic images documenting the progression of the LVPA are presented over the course of the patient's follow-up. This case highlights the natural history of LVPA and the utility of multimodal imaging in allowing accurate assessment of LVPA anatomy.
authors.affiliation: Harrington-McLaughlin Heart and Vascular Institute and Department of Radiology, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Noah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rosenthal
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nyberg
authors.forename: Brian D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Hoit
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017541:Aneurysm, False / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D004452:Echocardiography; D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006322:Heart Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; D010493:Pericarditis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016312:Treatment Refusal