Abstract
OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study is to describe the prevalence, morphology, size, and location of left atrial abnormalities including diverticula and accessory appendages in consecutive patients undergoing cardiac-gated CT for coronary artery evaluation. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Routine retrospectively gated contrast-enhanced 64-MDCT angiography (0.75-mm collimation, 330-milliseconds gantry rotation time) was performed in 529 consecutive patients. CT data sets were evaluated using axial, sagittal, coronal, and interactive multiplanar reconstructions; maximum intensity projections (MIPs); and interactive volume rendering. The presence, type, and location of left atrial appendages and diverticula were recorded. RESULTS. One hundred twenty-one patients had left atrial accessory appendages (n = 20) or left atrial diverticula (n = 81) or both (n = 20). One hundred four left atrial diverticula were found in 101 of the 529 patients (20%) and 44 accessory appendages in 41 patients (8%). Of the atrial diverticula, 88% were superior and anterior, 9% were right lateral superior, and 3% were inferior. Of accessory appendages, 34% were inferior posterior, 32% were left inferior, 18% were superior anterior, 14% were inferior posterior, and 2% were right inferior posterior. The average sizes of diverticula were 6.4 ± 2.5 x 6.2 ± 2.4 mm, and accessory appendages were 4.9 ± 2.1 x 3.9 ± 2.4 mm. CONCLUSION. Left atrial diverticula and accessory appendages are commonly found on cardiac-gated CT.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 807-812 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | American Journal of Roentgenology |
Volume | 193 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 2009 |
Keywords
- Atrial fibrillation
- Cardiac CT
- Cardiac congenital disease
- Left atrial accessory appendage
- Left atrial diverticulum
- Left atrial enlargement
- Thrombus
- Valvular heart disease
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging