Esophageal achalasia compressing left atrium diagnosed by echocardiography using a liquid containing carbon dioxide in a 21-year-old woman with Turner syndrome.
Extrinsic compression of the left atrium by the esophagus, the stomach, or both is an uncommon but important cause of hemodynamic compromise. Achalasia is a motility disorder characterized by impaired relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter and dilatation of the distal two thirds of the esophagus. Echocardiographic imaging after oral ingestion of liquid containing carbon dioxide allowed for differentiation between a compressive vascular structure and the esophagus. We report a rare case of esophageal achalasia compressing the left atrium diagnosed by echocardiography using a liquid containing carbon dioxide in a 21-year-old woman with Turner syndrome.
Division of Cardiology, Cardiac and Vascular Center, Department of Medicine, Samsung Changwon Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Changwon, Korea.
Man Je
MJ
Park
Bong Gun
BG
Song
Hyoun Soo
HS
Lee
Ki Hoon
KH
Kim
Hea Sung
HS
Ok
Byeong Ki
BK
Kim
Yong Hwan
YH
Park
Gu Hyun
GH
Kang
Woo Jung
WJ
Chun
Ju Hyeon
JH
Oh
D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D004931:Esophageal Achalasia / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D049630:Esophageal Sphincter, Lower / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D014424:Turner Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D055815:Young Adult
D002245:Carbon Dioxide