Right atrial appendage aneurysm: a systematic review.
BACKGROUND
Right atrial appendage aneurysm (RAAA) is rare with fewer than 20 cases reported in the literature. We sought to systematically review the published cases of RAAA in terms of demographics, clinical characteristics, treatment, complications, and outcome.


METHODS
Electronic search for case reports, case series, and related articles published until July 2013 was carried out and clinical data were extracted and analyzed.


RESULTS
Seventeen cases of RAAA were identified with equal sex distribution and commonly presenting in the third decades of life. Dyspnea and palpitation were the most common clinical presentations. Echocardiography was the most common diagnostic modality. The mean size of aneurysm was 8.83 ± 4.84 × 6.05 ± 2.99 cm. Most of the patients were treated medically with close follow-up. The mean follow-up period was 10 months. Atrial tachyarrhythmias and heart failure were the most common complications.


CONCLUSIONS
Right atrial appendage aneurysm although rare may be associated with significant morbidity. Surgical resection is indicated in symptomatic patients.
Department of Internal Medicine, Reading Health System, West Reading, Pennsylvania.
Madan Raj
MR
Aryal
Fayaz A
FA
Hakim
Smith
S
Giri
Sushil
S
Ghimire
Anil
A
Pandit
Yashoda
Y
Bhandari
Yam Prasad
YP
Acharya
Rajesh
R
Pradhan
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D020517:Atrial Appendage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006322:Heart Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
aneurysm; cardiac imaging; right atrium; thromboembolism