A 23-year-old male with Uhl's anomaly

Anatomical-MRI Correlations in Adults and Children with Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a rare disease in which the right ventricular myocardium is replaced by islands of fibro-adipose tissue. Therefore, ventricular re-entry circuits can occur, predisposing the patient to ventricular tachyarrhythmias, as well as dilation of the right ventricle that eventually leads to heart failure. Although it is a rare disease with low prevalence in Europe and the United States, many patients are addressed disproportionately for cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The most severe consequence of this condition is sudden cardiac death at a young age due to untreated cardiac arrhythmias. The purpose of this paper is to revise the magnetic resonance characteristics of ARVC, including the segmental contraction abnormalities, fatty tissue replacement, decrease of the ejection fraction, and the global RV dilation. Herein, we also present several recent improvements of the 2010 Task Force criteria that are not included within the ARVC diagnosis guidelines. In our opinion, these features will be considered in a future Task Force Consensus.

Uhl's Anomaly: A Rare Case of Portal Hypertension

Uhl's anomaly is a rare congenital heart disease characterized by partial or complete absence of the right ventricular myocardium and high early mortality rates. We describe a case of Uhl's anomaly in a 27-year-old young male patient presenting with portal hypertension and esophageal varices. In this article, we review the literature associated with this condition and highlight a rare presentation of a rare disease. This report adds to our current knowledge of this exceedingly rare disorder.

Prenatal ultrasonographic diagnosis of Uhl anomaly

Uhl anomaly is an extremely rare condition, and herein, we present a case of prenatally diagnosed Uhl anomaly to illustrate the associated echocardiographic features. Fetal echocardiography at 26 weeks indicated an enlarged right ventricle, severe tricuspid and pulmonary regurgitation, and ruptured ventricular septal aneurysm, resulting in a circular shunt. At 36 weeks, based on the presence of a thin ventricular wall and absence of apical trabeculation, a diagnosis of Uhl anomaly was made. The neonate, delivered by cesarean section, underwent main pulmonary artery ligation to eliminate the circular shunt immediately after birth. Moreover, he underwent ductus arteriosus ligation and received a pulmonary artery to aorta shunt for progressive lung congestion. He is currently well and awaiting a staged Fontan operation involving a bidirectional Glenn procedure. Understanding and accurate prenatal diagnoses of Uhl anomaly may help in parental counseling, planning appropriate perinatal care, and increasing the chances of survival.

A rare case of partial absence of the right ventricular musculature in asymptomatic adult man: partial Uhl's anomaly

Uhl's anomaly is a myocardial disorder of unknown cause that is characterized by complete or partial absence of the myocardium of the right ventricle. The disease may represent a cause of right heart dilatation and failure. Although most cases of Uhl's anomaly end fatally in infancy or childhood, an initial presentation during adulthood has been reported in rare cases. We report a very rare case of partial absence of the right ventricular musculature or partial Uhl's anomaly that incidentally found in asymptomatic adult man.