Long-term follow-up of a true contractile left ventricular diverticulum

Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance 2022 Cases of SCMR case series

"Cases of SCMR" is a case series on the SCMR website (https://www.scmr.org) for the purpose of education. The cases reflect the clinical presentation, and the use of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) in the diagnosis and management of cardiovascular disease. The 2022 digital collection of cases are presented in this manuscript.

Congenital Subaortic Left Ventricular Muscular Diverticulum

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LVD can rarely present in the subaortic position.

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A muscular LVD has synchronous contraction; an aneurysm does not.

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Subaortic LVD may be associated with aortic regurgitation, thrombus, and arrhythmia.

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An isolated LVD may be followed conservatively with noninvasive imaging.

Cardiac Outpouchings: Definitions, Differential Diagnosis, and Therapeutic Approach

Background and Aims

Cardiac outpouchings encounter a series of distinct congenital or acquired entities (i.e. aneurysms, pseudoaneurysms, diverticula, and herniations), whose knowledge is still poorly widespread in clinical practice. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview focusing on definition, differential diagnosis, and prognostic outcomes of cardiac outpouchings, as well as further insights on therapeutic options, in order to assist physicians in the most appropriate decision-making.

Methods

The material reviewed was obtained by the following search engines: MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, Google Scholar, and Clinical Trials databases, from January 1966 until March 2021. We searched for the following keywords (in title and/or abstract): (“cardiac” OR “heart”) AND (“outpouching” OR “outpouch” OR “aneurysm” OR “pseudoaneurysm” OR “false aneurysm” OR “diverticulum” OR “herniation”). Review articles, original articles, case series, and case reports with literature review were included in our search. Data from patients with congenital or acquired cardiac outpouchings, from prenatal to geriatric age range, were investigated.

Results

Out of the 378 papers initially retrieved, 165 duplicates and 84 records in languages other than English were removed. Among the 129 remaining articles, 76 were included in our research material, on the basis of the following inclusion criteria: (a) papers pertaining to the research topic; (b) peer-reviewed articles; (c) using standardized diagnostic criteria; and (d) reporting raw prevalence data. Location, morphologic features, wall motion abnormalities, and tissue characterization were found to have a significant impact in recognition and differential diagnosis of cardiac outpouchings as well as to play a significant role in defining their natural history and prognostic outcomes.

Conclusions

Careful recognition of cardiac outpouchings remains a diagnostic challenge in clinical practice. Due to a broad cluster of distinctive and heterogeneous entities, their knowledge and timely recognition play a pivotal role in order to provide the most appropriate clinical management and therapeutic approach.

Cardiac Outpouchings: A Multimodality Imaging Review

Cardiac outpouchings pose a diagnostic challenge when encountered in practice, as the signs, symptoms, and initial investigations, such as radiographs and electrocardiogram, are nonspecific. They may remain asymptomatic and be incidentally detected. However, a few may present with progressive shortness of breath, thromboembolic complications, arrhythmias, pressure effects, rupture, or even death. Imaging is of paramount importance in establishing an accurate diagnosis, delineating morphology and extent of the lesion along with its hemodynamic significance, planning management, and in the follow-up.

Congenital Ventricular Diverticulum or Aneurysm: A Difficult Diagnosis to Make

A pouch protruding from the free wall of the left ventricle may be either a congenital ventricular diverticulum (CVD) or aneurysm (CVA). Being aware of these rare congenital anomalies is critical in making the diagnosis. Differentiating the two is important for treatment decisions. We describe a patient with dextrocardia, Tetralogy of Fallot, and a congenital left ventricular apical diverticulum diagnosed following the induction of anesthesia. CVD and CVA may present in the antenatal period through late adulthood with differing morphology, location, and symptoms. Echocardiography is paramount in the diagnosis and characterization of these lesions. If this anomaly is encountered after the induction of anesthesia or during intraoperative echocardiography, the cardiothoracic anesthesiologist should make the surgical team aware so it can be further characterized and a treatment plan made prior to incision.

Multimodality Imaging and Clinical Significance of Congenital Ventricular Outpouchings: Recesses, Diverticula, Aneurysms, Clefts, and Crypts

The high spatial resolution of cardiac computed tomography (CT) and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) permit the diagnosis of congenital ventricular outpouchings (CVOs), including congenital ventricular diverticula (CVD), congenital ventricular aneurysms (CVA), clefts, and crypts. A unique classification has not been established, and these terms are used interchangeably with confounding terminology. Moreover, their significance is not univocal. A research was performed using PubMed on six subjects: (1) congenital left ventricular outpouchings; (2) congenital ventricular diverticulum; (3) congenital ventricular aneurysm; (4) ventricular clefts; (5) ventricular crypts; and (6) ventricular crevices. Usually, CVOs are small with a preserved contraction and in asymptomatic patients, the clinical relevance may be minimal, although electrocardiographic anomalies are often present. CVA and diverticula may carry an embolic risk and cases of arrhythmia and rupture are described. In the presence of clefts, or crypts a cardiomyopathy should be excluded. A simple classification can be proposed: CVD extend beyond the myocardial wall and fibrous type may be termed CVA, acquired forms should be kept distinct. Clefts, or crypts, are small recesses extending for more than 50% of the ventricular wall but not beyond its margin. The presence of fibrosis may be evaluated by CMR. A multicenter prospective registry would be helpful to investigate potential clinical implications and to exclude dubious forms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or ventricular noncompaction. In conclusion, CVOs have been described with different terminologies and classifications. Their significance needs to be interpreted in the clinical setting and with the help of a multimodality imaging, particularly of CMR.

Early Detection of Left Ventricular Diverticulum by Transthoracic Echocardiography

Left ventricular diverticulum is a very rare entity to be found in adults. Noninvasive echocardiography can offer useful information prior to contrast-enhanced computer tomography or invasive angiography. We evaluated a patient with left ventricular apical diverticulum but complained no symptoms. Transthoracic echocardiography demonstrated a outpouching at left ventricle apex. A 640-slice computed tomography later confirmed the left ventricular diverticulum.

Sudden perinatal death due to rupture of congenital cardiac diverticulum. Pathological findings and medico-legal investigations in malpractice charge

Congenital diverticula of the left ventricle, very rare malformations, are determined by an abnormal embryonic development of the ventricular wall and can be isolated or associated to other cardiac anomalies. In most of the cases, these pathologies are not symptomatic and in some patients can be associated to ventricular arrhythmia, cardiac rupture with tamponade and sudden death. Authors are presenting the case of a sudden death in an 8-weeks-old newborn due to rupture of a cardiac congenital diverticulum of the left ventricle, discovered only at the moment of the autopsic examination. The parents of the victim pressed charges against the medical staff that was appointed to the cares, blaming them with malpractice. The missed diagnosis of a cardiac congenital diverticulum of the left ventricle, a rare pathology, reflects the trickiness of the medical management that can lead to medico-legal controversies and, even though such rare conditions must be always taken into consideration when investigating possible dysfunction causing the death, diagnostic difficulties, in the case in exam, justify the missed diagnosis intra-vitam of cardiac ventricular diverticulum.

Evolution of ventricular outpouching through the fetal and postnatal periods: Unabating dilemma of serial observation or surgical correction

Ventricular outpouching is a rare finding in prenatal sonography and the main differential diagnoses are diverticulum, aneurysm, and pseudoaneurysm in addition to congenital cysts and clefts. The various modes of fetal presentation of congenital ventricular outpouching include an abnormal four-chamber view on fetal two-dimensional echocardiogram, fetal arrhythmia, fetal hydrops, and pericardial effusion. Left ventricular aneurysm (LVA)/nonapical diverticula are usually isolated defects. Apical diverticula are always associated with midline thoracoabdominal defects (epigastric pulsating diverticulum or large omphalocele) and other structural malformations of the heart. Most patients with LVA/congenital ventricular diverticulum remain clinically asymptomatic but they can potentially give rise to complications such as ventricular tachyarrhythmias, systemic embolism, sudden death, spontaneous rupture, and severe valvular regurgitation. The treatment of asymptomatic LVA and isolated congenital ventricular diverticulum is still undefined. In this review, our aim is to outline a systematic approach to a fetus detected with ventricular outpouching. Starting with prevalence and its types, issues in fetal management, natural course and evolution postbirth, and finally the perpetual dilemma of serial observation or surgical correction is discussed.

Overview of left ventricular outpouchings on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging

Left ventricular outpouchings commonly include aneurysm, pseudoaneurysm, and diverticulum and are now being increasingly detected on imaging. Distinction between these entities is of prime importance to guide proper management as outcomes for these entities differ substantially. Chest radiograph is usually nonspecific in their diagnosis. Echocardiography, multi-detector computed tomography evaluation and angiography are helpful in the diagnosis with their inherit limitations. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is emerging as a very useful tool that allows simultaneous anatomical and functional evaluation along with tissue characterization, which has diagnostic, theraputic and prognostic implications. This article gives an overview of left ventricular outpouchings with special emphasis on their differentiation using cardiac MRI.

Characteristics and outcome of congenital left ventricular aneurysm and diverticulum: Analysis of 809 cases published since 1816

BACKGROUND

Congenital left ventricular aneurysm (LVA) or diverticulum (LVD) is rare cardiac anomalies. We aimed to analyse the clinical characteristics and outcome in all ever published patients.

METHODS

MEDLINE, Web of science, Google and EMBASE, and reference lists of relevant articles were searched for publications reporting on LVA or LVD patients.

RESULTS

We identified 809 patients published since 1816 [354 (49.1%) LVA, 453 (50.6%) LVD, 2 (0.3%) both]. Mean age at diagnosis was 34.1±27 (LVA) and 29.7±27.6years (LVD; p=0.05). 48.9% were male. LVA was larger (38.7±22.5mm versus 31.4±21.2mm; p=0.002) and frequently found in submitral location (33% versus 4.9%; p<0.001), LVD was frequently located at the LV-apex (61.2% versus 28.7%; p<0.001). LVD was often associated with cardiac (34.2% versus 11%; p<0.001) or extracardiac anomalies (32.7% versus 3%; p<0.001). LVA patients presented more frequently with ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation (18.1% versus 13.1%; p=0.01), the incidences of rupture (4% versus 4.5%; p=0.9), syncope (8.3% versus 5.1%; p=0.1), and embolic events (4.9% versus 3.6%; p=0.4) at presentation were not different between LVA and LVD. Mean follow-up was 56.3±43months. Cardiac death occurred more frequently in the LVA group (11.5% versus 5.0%; p=0.05) at a median age of 0.8 [LVA] and 2.5 [LVD] years. The leading cause of cardiac death was congestive heart failure in the LVA-group (50.0% versus 0.0%; p=0.01), and rupture in the LVD-group (75.0% versus 27.3%; p=0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

LVA and LVD are distinct congenital anomalies with different clinical and morphological characteristics. The prognosis of LVA is significantly worse during long-term follow-up.

Congenital left ventricular diverticulum: Multimodality imaging evaluation and literature review

Congenital ventricular diverticulum is a rare cardiac malformation. We present the case of a 57-year-old man who underwent cardiac catheterization for suspected unstable angina. No coronary artery disease was diagnosed and a left ventricular diverticulum was incidentally found. Coronary CT and cardiac MRI were performed in order to confirm the diagnosis of a muscular type diverticulum and to exclude a post-ischemic aneurysm.

A rare association of left ventricular diverticulum and noncompaction: continuum of common developmental abnormality?

A previously healthy 16-year-old girl presented with history of fever of 3 months duration without any significant clinical finding on examination. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) revealed moderate pericardial effusion and later diagnosed as tubercular in etiology. Besides, TTE also showed an incidental finding of large left ventricular (LV) diverticulum in submitral region along the postero-basal segment and left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC). Nonapical LV diverticulum is a rare variant of this uncommon congenital condition and its association with LVNC has not been reported in literature. Patient was discharged on antitubercular therapy for pericardial effusion and advised for 6 monthly follow-up for diverticulum.

Congenital biventricular cardiac diverticula in a dog

Multiple diverticula of the right and left cardiac ventricular walls were incidental findings at necropsy in a juvenile, male, mixed-breed dog with no clinical history of heart disease. Each saccular diverticulum had a narrow communication into the corresponding ventricular chamber. Histologically, the diverticular walls consisted mainly of collagen without elastin fibers and atrophic cardiomyocytes. No inflammation or other lesions were associated with the diverticula or the rest of the myocardium. Based on the history and pathologic findings, a diagnosis of congenital biventricular fibrous diverticula was made.

Isolated congenital left ventricular diverticulum in an elderly patient that was identified because of an incidental finding during a complete medical checkup

Congenital left ventricular diverticulum is a rare cardiac malformation in an elderly patient. It frequently is associated with other cardiac or non-cardiac congenital malformations. We present an asymptomatic elderly patient, evaluated because of an incidental finding of a left ventricular anatomic change on chest computed tomography during a complete medical checkup. The diagnosis of isolated congenital left ventricular diverticulum was confirmed by echocardiography and cardiac catheterization. With the general use of a complete medical checkup, the incidental findings of patients with isolated congenital left ventricular diverticulum might increase, which might allow for a valid estimation of the morbidity and mortality of these patients.

Multiple left ventricular diverticuli in an asymptomatic adult: Case report and review of the literature

Left ventricular (LV) diverticulum is a rare congenital abnormality for which the etiology, management, and natural history are very poorly understood. Although most often observed as a single diverticulum, we report a case of multiple LV diverticuli in an asymptomatic adult referred for coronary evaluation due to an abnormal electrocardiogram. LV diverticuli are often associated with other congenital malformations, but can also be found in isolation. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging provides enhanced ability to determine size, location, and morphological characteristics, which may improve lesion assessment and management. A review of the condition and reported complications is discussed.

Congenital cardiac diverticulum in the subaortic valve area

OBJECTIVE

We report and review the clinical characteristics and operative techniques of the rare malformation of congenital cardiac diverticulum in the subaortic valve area.

METHODS

Four male patients with congenital ventricular fibrous diverticula in the subaortic valve area are reported.

RESULTS

The patients' ages ranged from 4 to 47 years (mean 39 years). The first case was complicated by rupture, pseudoaneurysm formation, and a hemopericardium, and was only diagnosed on the third surgical exploration. The second case was associated with endocarditis involving both aortic and mitral regurgitation. The diverticulum was suspected on 2-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography and confirmed at surgery. In the third case, the subaortic diverticulum was associated with a rupture of the left cusp of the aortic valve with severe regurgitation. In the fourth case, the diverticulum was located between the aortic and mitral valves with a diameter of approximately 30 mm and was associated with multiple perforations of an aortic valve leaflet and severe regurgitation. There were no other congenital thoracoabdominal or cardiac anomalies. At a mean follow-up of 1 year, all patients were well.

CONCLUSIONS

Congenital cardiac diverticulum in the subaortic valve area is a rare anomaly. Transthoracic echocardiography and transesophageal echocardiography are reliable tools for the diagnosis and follow-up. Isolated congenital cardiac diverticula in the subaortic valve area tend to involve a benign clinical process, but may be complicated by spontaneous rupture or endocarditis. Surgical resection is performed when complications require surgical therapy.

Congenital left ventricular aneurysms and diverticula: definition, pathophysiology, clinical relevance and treatment

A congenital left ventricular aneurysm or diverticulum is a rare cardiac malformation; 411 cases have been reported since its first description in 1816, and other cardiac, vascular or thoraco-abdominal abnormalities have been shown in about 70%. It appears to be a developmental anomaly, starting in the 4th embryonic week. Diagnosis can be made after exclusion of coronary artery disease, local or systemic inflammation or traumatic causes as well as cardiomyopathies. Clinically, most congenital left ventricular aneurysms and diverticula are asymptomatic or may cause systemic embolization, heart failure, valvular regurgitation, ventricular wall rupture, ventricular tachycardia or sudden cardiac death. Diagnosis is established by imaging studies such as echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging or left ventricular angiography, visualizing the structural changes and accompanying abnormalities. Mode of treatment has to be individually tailored and depends on clinical presentation, accompanying abnormalities and possible complications; treatment options include surgical resection especially in symptomatic patients, anticoagulation after systemic embolization, radiofrequency ablation or implantation of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator in case of symptomatic ventricular tachycardia, occasionally combined with class I or III antiarrhythmic drugs.

Diagnosis and outcome in congenital ventricular diverticulum and aneurysm

OBJECTIVE

True congenital ventricular diverticulum and aneurysm in children are very uncommon. We report our experience to clarify the diagnosis and outcome of these little-known entities.

METHODS

Twenty-two patients with congenital ventricular outpouchings were identified in our database from 1973 to 2004. Morphologic characteristics (localization, connection to a ventricle, contractility), histologic findings, and cardiac and/or extracardiac abnormalities were analyzed in all 22 patients. Cardiovascular events and clinical courses were reviewed.

RESULTS

Congenital ventricular diverticula (n = 16) were characterized by synchronal contractility and three myocardial layers on histologic examination. Two categories of congenital ventricular diverticulum could be identified with regard to their localization: apical and nonapical. Apical diverticula (n = 8) were always associated with midline thoracoabdominal defects and other heart malformations. Nonapical diverticula (n = 8) were always isolated defects. Congenital ventricular aneurysms (n = 6) were characterized by akinesis with paradoxical systolic motion, wide connection to the ventricle, fibrosis on histologic examination that appeared with high signal on T2 weighted magnetic resonance imaging, and absence of other heart or midline thoracoabdominal defects. The outcome was different in these two types of outpouchings: congential ventricular aneurysms were associated with adverse outcomes whereas the prognosis for congenital ventricular diverticula was good.

CONCLUSION

Congenital ventricular diverticulum and aneurysm are two distinct entities, with different histologic and morphologic characteristics and outcomes. Assessment of these differential characteristics is of importance for prenatal counseling.

Imaging for the Diagnosis of an Unusual Case of Left Ventricular Aneurysm

An isolated ventricular diverticulum in an adult patient investigated for chest pain is reported. An exhaustive diagnosis was obtained by different means and complementary imaging techniques such as echocardiography, cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging and cineangiography.

Asymptomatic isolated congenital left ventricular muscular diverticulum in an adult: a case report

Congenital ventricular diverticulum is a very rare malformation in adults. We describe a 21-year-old male with a congenital muscular left ventricular diverticulum in the inferior wall. The lesion was suspected on two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography; transesophageal echocardiography allowed clear detection of the diverticulum as well of mild mitral valve prolapse. The diagnosis was confirmed by cardiac catheterization. There were no other thoracoabdominal or cardiac anomalies, the patient was asymptomatic, and surgery was not deemed necessary.

Left ventricular septal aneurysm in association with bicuspid aortic valve--a case report

Diverticula of the left ventricle are rare cardiac anomalies. Most cases arise from the apex of the left ventricle and are usually found in children. Only a few cases have been documented in adults. The authors report a case of a 38-year-old woman who presented with dyspnea and chest pain. She was found to have a septal left ventricular diverticulum associated with bicuspid aortic valve, aortic stenosis, and aortic regurgitation. The aortic valve was replaced with the resection of the diverticulum. Pathologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of fibrous diverticulum.