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Graphical abstract

Advances in imaging have resulted in more frequent reporting of primitive right atrial structures which can sometimes mimic cardiac tumors in prenatal ultrasound. Prominent crista terminalis and Chiari network are examples of these structures. We describe two cases of pregnant women referred to the fetal cardiology clinic for fetal echocardiography for right atrial masses seen on prenatal ultrasound suspicious of tuberous sclerosis. The first case subsequently diagnosed as crista terminalis and the second case as a prominent Chiari network. Postnatal ECHO confirmed the benign nature of these structures. It is important to differentiate tumors from prominent benign structures in the right atrium in fetal ECHO. The location and the similar echogenicity to the adjacent atrial tissue are clues for differentiation of these structures from atrial tumors.

Right ventricular (RV) hypoplasia may develop secondary to pulmonary or tricuspid valve atresia. These patients are usually symptomatic early in life and need prompt intervention. Isolated RV hypoplasia is a rare congenital heart disease. We report a case of 23-year-old twins who have been monitored for the last 14 years for isolated right ventricular hypoplasia. ECHO and MRI studies showed a small, heavily trabeculated, nonapex-forming RV and mild tricuspid valve insufficiency. The girl has a patent foramen ovale (PFO). Otherwise, the cardiac anatomy and function was normal. They have both been completely asymptomatic from the cardiac standpoint. The family history is remarkable for death of father at the age of 30 years with autopsy suggestive of a hypoplastic RV. The paternal uncle also died at the age of 46 years, and his son has an unidentified congenital heart disease. The family history appears to suggest an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance with variable expressivity. However, the chromosome microarray analysis of the twins did not identify any variations of clinical significance.

Right ventricular (RV) hypoplasia may develop secondary to pulmonary or tricuspid valve atresia. These patients are usually symptomatic early in life and need prompt intervention. Isolated RV hypoplasia is a rare congenital heart disease. We report a case of 23-year-old twins who have been monitored for the last 14 years for isolated right ventricular hypoplasia. ECHO and MRI studies showed a small, heavily trabeculated, nonapex-forming RV and mild tricuspid valve insufficiency. The girl has a patent foramen ovale (PFO). Otherwise, the cardiac anatomy and function was normal. They have both been completely asymptomatic from the cardiac standpoint. The family history is remarkable for death of father at the age of 30 years with autopsy suggestive of a hypoplastic RV. The paternal uncle also died at the age of 46 years, and his son has an unidentified congenital heart disease. The family history appears to suggest an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance with variable expressivity. However, the chromosome microarray analysis of the twins did not identify any variations of clinical significance.

Congenital heart disease (CHD) may cause a significant comorbidity in patients with Turner syndrome. The commonly reported CHD in these patients includes bicuspid aortic valve and coarctation of the aorta. Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is a rare form of cardiomyopathy that has been reported in literature only three times in adult patients with Turner syndrome. We report the first case of a 6-year-old asymptomatic female with Turner syndrome who was referred for cardiac evaluation after her Turner syndrome diagnosis. Echocardiogram was suspicious for LVNC, which was confirmed on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

Surgical ligation of a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a commonly performed procedure. Complications are infrequent and most commonly include recurrent laryngeal nerve injury and rarely ligation of left pulmonary artery. We report a case of accidental ligation of the descending thoracic aorta leading to a clinically significant coarctation.