A case of inverted left atrial appendage mimicking a tumor

J Comput Assist Tomogr. 2003 Jul-Aug;27(4):501-4. doi: 10.1097/00004728-200307000-00008.

Abstract

We report a rare case of an inverted left atrial appendage without prior cardiac surgery. A left atrial mass was incidentally found during routine echocardiography in a 19-year-old man with mitral valve prolapse. Echocardiography revealed a hyperechoic mass in the left atrium, and a neoplastic lesion could not be excluded. On magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), this mass consisted of fat tissue that showed continuation to epicardial fat, indicating an inverted left atrial appendage mimicking a tumor in the left atrium. When a mass in the left atrium is observed on echocardiography, there are several differential diagnoses, including thrombus, vegetation, and intra-atrial neoplasms such as myxomas. Recently, several studies reported cases with inverted left atrial appendages mimicking tumors in patients after cardiac operations. We present a case of inverted left atrial appendage without any prior cardiac surgery. Cardiac MRI was highly useful to obtain the final diagnosis of inverted left atrial appendage.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue
  • Adult
  • Atrial Appendage / abnormalities*
  • Atrial Appendage / diagnostic imaging
  • Atrial Appendage / pathology*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Echocardiography
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / pathology*
  • Heart Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Radiography