J Cardiovasc Ultrasound.  2011 Sep;19(3):156-158. 10.4250/jcu.2011.19.3.156.

Prominent Crista Terminalis in Patients with Embolic Events

• Na JO
• Kim EJ
• Mun SJ
• Choi EH
• Mun JH
• Lee HR
• Kim YK
• Yong HS

• KMID: 1980372
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4250/jcu.2011.19.3.156

Abstract

A prominent crista terminalis is a normal anatomic variant which consist of thick muscular bridge within the right atrium. However, it could be often misdiagnosed with an abnormal mass on the transthoracic echocardiography. The case report presented here, describe the findings of transthoracic echocardiography that suggested a right atrial mass in patients with pulmonary embolism. However, subsequent transesophageal echocardiography and cardiac computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging differentiated a true right atrial mass from a prominent crista terminalis.

Keyword

Crista terminalis; Right atrial mass

MeSH Terms

Echocardiography
Echocardiography, Transesophageal
Heart Atria
Humans
Pulmonary Embolism

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Transthoracic echocardiogram reveals an echogenic non-mobile mass in the right atrium. LA: left atrium, LV: left ventricle, RA: right atrium, RV: right ventricle.

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  Fig. 2 Transesophageal echocardiogram shows a prominent crista terminalis at the superior part of right atrium close to superior vena cava. LA: left atrium, pCT: prominent crista terminalis, RA: right atrium, SVC: superior vena cava.

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  Fig. 3 A very large pulmonary embolism is seen in the right pulmonary artery.

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  Fig. 4 Chest computed tomography (CT) (A and B) and magnetic resonance imaging (C) reveal a prominent crista terminalis without any definite mass in the right atrium. Eso: esophagus, LA: left atrium, pCT: prominent crista terminalis, RA: right atrium, SVC: superior vena cava.

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