J Cardiovasc Ultrasound.  2008 Dec;16(4):140-142. 10.4250/jcu.2008.16.4.140.

Huge Aneurysm of the Sinus of Valsalva Compressing the Left Atrium

Affiliations
  • 1Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea. ironkh@yahoo.co.kr
  • 2Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Ulsan Hospital, Ulsan, Korea.
  • 3Department of Internal Medicine, Dong-a University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.

Abstract

Sinus of Valsalva aneurysms are rare cardiac anomalies. They can be congenital or acquired, and mainly involve the right or non-coronary sinuses. Unruptured aneurysms are usually asymptomatic unless they compress other structures or produce thrombi. A sinus of Valsalva aneurysm can also produce myocardial infarction through thrombus formation secondary to the turbulent flow in the Valsalva aneurysm. We report a case of a huge sinus of Valsalva aneurysm involving the noncoronary sinus, which was diagnosed as the presumed source of acute myocardial infarction.

Keyword

Sinus of Valsalva; Aneurysm

MeSH Terms

Aneurysm
Heart Atria
Myocardial Infarction
Sinus of Valsalva
Thrombosis

Figure

  • Fig. 1 TTE images of the SVA. A huge SVA (7.6×5.8 cm in diameter) is compressing the LA in the parasternal long axis (A) and apical 4 chamber views (B). SVA: sinus of Valsalva aneurysm, LA: left atrium, LV: left ventricle, RV: right ventricle.

  • Fig. 2 TEE image of a SVA. The SVA originating from the non-coronary sinus extends to the interatrial septum and severe spontaneous echo contrast is observed in the short axis view. SVA: sinus of Valsalva aneurysm, RA: right atrium.

  • Fig. 3 A huge SVA arising from the non-coronary cusp is seen in the chest cardiac tomography image.


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