title: Atrial septal aneurysms in childhood: prevalence, classification, and concurrent abnormalities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study sought to investigate the prevalence of atrial septal aneurysms in the paediatric population and to define coexisting abnormalities and their incidence.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Few papers refer to the prevalence of atrial septal aneurysms in childhood.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled a total of 4522 children aged more than 12 months who underwent a transthoracic echocardiography. Atrial septal aneurysm was defined as a protrusion of the interatrial septum or part of it >15 mm beyond the plane of the atrial septum or phasic excursion of the interatrial septum during the cardiorespiratory cycle of at least 15 mm in total amplitude and a diameter of the base of the aneurysm of at least 15 mm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Atrial septal aneurysms were found in 47 children (1.04%). They involved almost the entire septum in 14 patients (28.89%) and were limited to the fossa ovalis in 33 (71.11%). An atrial septal aneurysm was an isolated structural defect in 17 (35.56%). In 30 (64.44%) patients, it was associated with interatrial shunting - atrial septal defect and patent foramen ovale. At the echo follow-up after a year, no changes were recorded.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence of atrial septal aneurysms is almost 1%. The most common abnormalities associated are interatrial shunts, that is, a patent foramen ovale and an atrial septal defect. From a medical point of view, it is suggested that no action is to be taken during childhood, as a child with an atrial septal aneurysm is not at increased risk compared with a child without one. Follow-up is scheduled on an individual basis.
authors.affiliation: 1 Paediatric Cardiology Unit, AHEPA University Hospital, Greece.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giannopoulos
authors.affiliation: 1 Paediatric Cardiology Unit, AHEPA University Hospital, Greece.
authors.forename: Christoforos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gavras
authors.affiliation: 1 Paediatric Cardiology Unit, AHEPA University Hospital, Greece.
authors.forename: Stavroula
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sarioglou
authors.affiliation: 1 Paediatric Cardiology Unit, AHEPA University Hospital, Greece.
authors.forename: Fotini
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Agathagelou
authors.affiliation: 1 Paediatric Cardiology Unit, AHEPA University Hospital, Greece.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kassapoglou
authors.affiliation: 2 B Department of Paediatrics, AHEPA University Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Fani
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Athanassiadou
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D054087:Atrial Septum; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006322:Heart Aneurysm / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies