Left atrial calcification in rheumatic heart disease: a rare presentation

Radiologic signs in thoracic imaging: case-based review and self-assessment module

OBJECTIVE

Chest imaging remains one of the most complicated sub-specialties of diagnostic radiology. The successful interpretation of thoracic imaging studies requires the recognition and understanding of the radiologic signs that are characteristic of many complex disease processes.

CONCLUSION

The educational objectives for this case-based self-assessment module are for the participant to exercise, self-assess, and improve his or her understanding of important thoracic radiologic signs that are useful in establishing the diagnosis of particular diseases of the chest.

Left atrial calcifications: computed tomographic imaging findings of an unusual sign of rheumatic heart disease

Left atrial wall calcifications are an extremely rare finding of unknown cause usually associated with rheumatic disease. Only a few case reports of this entity are found in the literature, mostly describing the findings on conventional chest radiography, echocardiography, and angiography. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case documented with multislice computed tomography.