Magnetic resonance imaging of AMS (Aneurysm of the Membranous Septum), review of the literature and case report

Isolated Ventricular Septal Aneurysm: A Differential Diagnosis for a Right Sinus of Valsalva Aneurysm

BACKGROUND A ventricular septal aneurysm (VSA) is rare and almost always an incidental finding on cardiac imaging. It is rarely an isolated phenomenon and is more commonly associated with other forms of congenital heart disease such a ventricular septal defect (VSD). Differentiating a ventricular septal aneurysm from an aneurysm of the right sinus of Valsalva is crucial as the latter usually has a more aggressive course and may require surgical intervention. Cardiac computed tomography (cardiac CT) or cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) may help confirm the diagnosis. CASE REPORT We report a case of a 42-year-old obese Japanese man with a past medical history of hyperlipidemia who described occasional effort-related palpitations when climbing stairs over the past few months but no anginal symptoms. Echocardiogram revealed normal left ventricular systolic with a presumed right sinus of Valsalva aneurysm measuring around 1.5 cm. A coronary CTA was obtained to further delineate the aneurysm and revealed normal CT angiographic appearance of a right dominant coronary artery circulation with a small aneurysmal outpouching of the membranous ventricular septum measuring 13×17 mm without any evidence of shunting, along with focal calcification of the medial aspect of the tricuspid annulus. The right sinus of Valsalva appeared normal on coronary CTA. CONCLUSIONS Membranous ventricular septal aneurysm is a rare condition that is almost always an incidental finding on echocardiography and can be mistaken for an aneurysm of the right sinus of Valsalva. Multimodality imaging and high degree of clinical suspicion are needed to accurately diagnose a ventricular septal aneurysm and to achieve favorable outcomes. A VSA usually has a benign course and is rarely a cause of arrythmia, right ventricular outflow obstruction, or valvular insufficiency.

Management of Late-Presenting Congenital Combined Heart Defect - Bicuspid Aortic Valve and Ventricular Septal Aneurysm

Patient: Female, 68-year-old

Final Diagnosis: Bicuspid aortic valve and ventricular septal aneurysm

Symptoms: Cough

Medication:—

Clinical Procedure: Plastic repair of ascending aorta and interventricular anurysm

Specialty: Cardiac surgery

Interventricular Membranous Septal Aneurysm Incidentally Diagnosed During Computed Tomographic Angiography in a Patient with Infrequent Supraventricular Tachycardia

Interventricular membranous septal (IVMS) aneurysm is a rare condition with no accurate incidence. It is known to be associated with 0.3 % of congenital heart disease and 19 % of ventricular septal defects. IVMS aneurysm is often asymptomatic but can be complicated with right ventricular obstruction, rupture, thromboembolism, and conduction defects. Clinicians and radiologist should be aware about this rare clinical entity and evaluation of any possible underlying cardiac abnormalities should be performed. Conservative management with close follow up is the mainstay of management in the absence of complication.

CT and MR imaging of the thoracic aorta

At present time, both CT and MRI are valuable techniques in the study of the thoracic aorta. Nowadays, CT represents the most widely employed technique for the study of the thoracic aorta. The new generation CTs show sensitivities up to 100% and specificities of 98-99%. Sixteen and wider row detectors provide isotropic pixels, mandatory for the ineludible longitudinal reconstruction. The main limits are related to the X-ray dose expoure and the use of iodinated contrast media. MRI has great potential in the study of the thoracic aorta. Nevertheless, if compared to CT, acquisition times remain longer and movement artifact susceptibility higher. The main MRI disadvantages are claustrophobia, presence of ferromagnetic implants, pacemakers, longer acquisition times with respect to CT, inability to use contrast media in cases of renal insufficiency, lower spatial resolution and less availability than CT. CT is preferred in the acute aortic disease. Nevertheless, since it requires iodinated contrast media and X-ray exposure, it may be adequately replaced by MRI in the follow up of aortic diseases. The main limitation of MRI, however, is related to the scarce visibility of stents and calcifications.