Key result
Pericardial drainage resolves an echocardiographic left atrial mass mimic caused by appendage invagination.
Why the study?
Pericardial effusion can mimic left intra-atrial thrombus on echocardiography, complicating diagnosis and management.
Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
Population
A 71-year-old woman with dyspnoea and irregular tachycardia
Comparison
Pericardial effusion with intra-auricular mass vs post-drain resolution
Design
Case report
May prompt consideration of pericardial effusion in apparent left atrial masses; hypothesis-generating for imaging differentials in effusion.
A 71-year-old woman presented with dyspnoea and irregular tachycardia. Investigation revealed the presence of pericardial effusion and left intra-auricular mass. The patient was sent to the operation theatre and after pericardial drain, the intra-atrial mass disappeared with retroactive diagnosis of left atrial appendage invagination.
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Messas et al. (2008) studied this question. Pericardial drainage resolved an echocardiographic mimic of a left intra-atrial mass caused by pericardial effusion-induced left atrial appendage invagination.
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