title: Cardiac Vignette: Giant Left Atrial Appendage Aneurysm.
abstract: The left atrial appendage (LAA) is a vestigial structure located in the postero-lateral aspect of the left atrium. Aneurysmal enlargement of the LAA is pathological and can predispose to adverse events, including myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation and systemic thromboembolism. The condition is rare and usually isolated, occurring in the absence of other cardiac defects. In this cardiac vignette, we describe a case of giant left atrial appendage in a middle aged female presenting with chest pain and explore the natural history, different investigative modalities as well as issues in clinical management of this condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Blacktown and Mount Druitt Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: chgan84@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Gary C H
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Gan
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Blacktown and Mount Druitt Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Aditya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhat
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Blacktown and Mount Druitt Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Himanshu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Desai
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Blacktown and Mount Druitt Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eshoo
mesh_terms: D020517:Atrial Appendage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006322:Heart Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: Aneurysmectomy; Congenital heart disease; Giant left atrial appendage; Left atrial appendage (LAA); Left atrial appendage aneurysm; Structural heart disease