1. Atrial Septal Aneurysms - A Clinically Relevant Enigma?
- Author
-
Kenneth Cho, Cameron J. Holloway, and Michael P. Feneley
- Subjects
Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine ,Atrial septal aneurysm ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Atrial Septum ,business.industry ,Foramen Ovale, Patent ,medicine.disease ,Atrial septum ,Imaging modalities ,Cryptogenic stroke ,Stroke ,Risk Factors ,Internal medicine ,cardiovascular system ,Cardiology ,medicine ,Patent foramen ovale ,Humans ,Clinical significance ,cardiovascular diseases ,Heart Aneurysm ,Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine ,business ,Cardiac imaging - Abstract
Atrial septal aneurysms (ASAs) are often seen during routine cardiac imaging, though their clinical relevance has been poorly defined. The aneurysmal, and often mobile, inter-atrial septum is frequently associated with other clinically relevant structural cardiac abnormalities, particularly patent foramen ovale (PFO). Whilst ASAs have previously been considered an incidental finding, a well-endowed atrial septum provides more than visual interest, including insights into atrial function and intra-atrial pressures, and has important clinical implications in PFO-associated stroke, migraines, and arrhythmias. This review outlines diagnostic challenges when assessing ASAs using all imaging modalities and the clinical implications of this common anatomical variant.
- Published
- 2021