Cross-sectional echocardiography is effective for diagnosing isolated aneurysmal dilatation of the left atrial appendage, which can be surgically excised to prevent systemic embolism.
Case supports echocardiography for diagnosing giant left atrial appendage aneurysm; leaves open whether excision outperforms anticoagulation in asymptomatic patients.
An isolated aneurysmal dilatation of the left atrial appendage was found in an 18 year old girl who presented with atrial fibrillation and an unusual cardiac shadow on routine chest radiographs. The diagnosis was made by cross sectional echocardiography. The giant appendage was excised to remove the risk of systemic embolism and the need for life long anticoagulation.
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Lipkin et al. (1985) studied this question.