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February 19, 2026Life0 citationsOpen Access

Late Diagnosis of Unroofed Coronary Sinus Associated with Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava in Patient with Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot: Case Report

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OGOana Gheorghe‐FroneaCarol Davila University of Medicine and PharmacyMRMircea RobuCarol Davila University of Medicine and PharmacySOSebastian OnciulCardiac Imaging

Key Points

  • The aim is to highlight the rare coincidence of unroofed coronary sinus with persistent left superior vena cava in a patient with repaired tetralogy of Fallot.
  • Case presentation of a 20-year-old woman with history of repaired tetralogy of Fallot.
  • Multimodality imaging, including transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac MRI, was employed to identify anomalies.
  • Surgical correction was performed with interatrial compartmentation and tricuspid annuloplasty.
  • The imaging revealed a large atrial-level shunt due to the unroofed coronary sinus and persistent left superior vena cava.
  • Significant right-sided chamber dilation and pulmonary hypertension were also observed.
  • Postoperative outcome was uneventful with successful correction of anomalies.

Abstract

Background: An unroofed coronary sinus (UCS) is a rare congenital cardiac anomaly, accounting for less than 1% of atrial septal defects and frequently associated with a persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC). Its coexistence with Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is exceptionally uncommon and has been reported almost exclusively in isolated case reports. Case Presentation: We report the case of a 20-year-old woman with a history of surgically corrected TOF in infancy, who presented with progressive exertional dyspnea. Multimodality imaging, including transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, revealed a large atrial-level shunt caused by a type I unroofed coronary sinus associated with a persistent left superior vena cava, leading to significant right-sided chamber dilation and pulmonary hypertension. Notably, this anomaly had not been identified at the time of the initial TOF repair. The patient underwent a successful surgical correction with interatrial compartmentation and tricuspid annuloplasty, with an uneventful postoperative course. Conclusions: This case underscores the extreme rarity of the UCS–TOF association and highlights the potential for UCSs with PLSVC to remain clinically silent for years after complex congenital heart surgery. A comprehensive reassessment of the systemic venous and atrial anatomy using advanced multimodality imaging is essential in symptomatic adults with repaired TOF, as late-presenting venous anomalies may have significant hemodynamic and clinical implications.

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Cite This Study

Gheorghe‐Fronea et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6996a818ecb39a600b3ee732https://doi.org/10.3390/life16020342
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