Congenital Aneurysm of the Left Ventricle
Its Recognition and Significance
- Rohit R. Arora, MD;
- Henry J. Issenberg, MD;
- Hugo Spindola-Franco, MD;
- Ayodeji Fayemi, MD;
- Carl Steeg, MD
Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text.
Excerpt
TRUE left ventricular aneurysm, congenital or acquired, may be defined as an abnormal bulge or outpouching of a portion of the left ventricular wall with or without paradoxical (dyskinetic) systolic expansion. The wall of the aneurysm is composed of either myocardium or fibrous tissue and may be calcified.1-3 In contrast, a false aneurysm or pseudoaneurysm of the left ventricle (LV) represents a localized myocardial rupture, with the hemorrhage limited by adherent pericardium and fibrous tissue.4,5 Congenital and false aneurysms of the LV must be differentiated from left ventricular aneurysms resulting from myocardial infarction because the former tend to rupture. Left ventricular aneurysms associated with postmyocardial infarction do not rupture and are repaired only if a complication such as intractable congestive heart failure, arrhythmia, or refractory angina is present.6,7 Two cases of catastrophic congenital left ventricular aneurysms and a description of the various imaging modalities used to arrive
Footnotes
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Reprint requests to Department of Radiology, Montefiore Medical Center, 111 E 210th St, Bronx, NY 10467 (Dr Spindola-Franco).
