Why the study?
Cor Triatriatum Sinister is a rare congenital anomaly that can remain asymptomatic until adulthood, and its coexistence with chronic adhesive pericarditis contributing to chronic atrial dilatation had not been previously documented.
This case highlights the utility of advanced imaging in diagnosing rare adult presentations of Cor Triatriatum Sinister coexisting with chronic adhesive pericarditis.
Clinicians should consider CTS in unexplained adult atrial dilatation; extends case literature on pericarditis link but remains hypothesis-generating.
INTRODUCTION: Cor Triatriatum Sinister (CTS) is a rare congenital anomaly, accounting for 0.1%- 0.4% of congenital heart diseases. While often diagnosed and treated in infancy, some cases remain asymptomatic until adulthood due to large fenestrations. This report presents a unique case of CTS in an adult coexisting with chronic adhesive pericarditis, which may have contributed to chronic atrial dilatation, a condition not previously documented. CASE PRESENTATION: A 60-year-old asymptomatic Taiwanese male underwent a routine medical examination. Coronary computed tomography angiography revealed a fenestrated septum dividing the left atrium, consistent with CTS. Virtual endoscopy confirmed two wide fenestrations. Notably, chronic adhesive pericarditis, evidenced by curvilinear calcifications, was diagnosed. This condition likely exacerbated the hemodynamic impact of CTS, contributing to left atrial dilation and atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation was identified, and the patient was treated with an anticoagulant for stroke prevention. CONCLUSION: This is the first reported case of CTS coexisting with chronic adhesive pericarditis. Advanced imaging modalities, including cardiac computed tomography, angiography, and virtual endoscopy, are crucial for diagnosis and anatomical evaluation. Chronic adhesive pericarditis may amplify the effects of CTS, leading to complications, including atrial fibrillation. Anticoagulation is essential for stroke prevention in such cases.
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Lee et al. (2025) studied this question.
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