J Cardiovasc Ultrasound.  2010 Dec;18(4):151-153. 10.4250/jcu.2010.18.4.151.

Massive Left Atrial Calcification Associated with Mitral Valve Replacement

Affiliations
  • 1Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu, Korea. grhong@ynu.ac.kr

Abstract

Calcification of the left atrium can be observed in patients with a long-lasting rheumatic heart disease. However, massive calcification of the atrial wall, so called porcelain or coconut atrium is very rare and has been generally reported only as incidental radiographic findings. We report a case of massive and firm calcifications at the left atrium in patient who underwent mitral valve replacement.

Keyword

Left atrial calcification; Mitral valve replacement

MeSH Terms

Cocos
Dental Porcelain
Heart Atria
Humans
Mitral Valve
Rheumatic Heart Disease
Dental Porcelain

Figure

  • Fig. 1 An electrocardiogram reveals atrial fibrillation and biventricular hypertrophy.

  • Fig. 2 The posteroanterior view of chest X-ray illustrating diffuse calcified outline of the left atrial wall (arrow).

  • Fig. 3 The transesophageal echocardiogram shows increased spontaneous echo contrast in the left atrium. LA: left artrium, RA: right atrium, AV: aortic valve, RVOT: right ventricular outflow tract.

  • Fig. 4 The computed tomogram of the left atrium showing multiple calcifications in the area of atrial free wall and mitral valve (arrows).


Cited by  1 articles

Echocardiographic detection of left atrial mobile calcium debris of trido valve surgery: a case report
Young Song, Jae-Kwang Shim, Jong-Min Sun, Bora Lee, Young Lan Kwak
Korean J Anesthesiol. 2014;66(4):314-316.    doi: 10.4097/kjae.2014.66.4.314.


Reference

1. Vallejo JL, Merino C, González-Santos JM, Bastida E, Albertos J, Riesgo MJ, González de Diego F. Massive calcification of the left atrium: surgical implications. Ann Thorac Surg. 1995. 60:1226–1229.
Article
2. Meyners W, Peters S. A coconut left atrium 23 years after mitral valve replacement for chronic mitral stenosis. Z Kardiol. 2003. 92:82–83.
Article
3. Del Campo C, Weinstein P, Kunnelis C, DiStefano P, Ebers GM. Coconut atrium: transmural calcification of the entire left atrium. Tex Heart Inst J. 2000. 27:49–51.
4. Edwards JM, Chisholm RJ. Porcelain atrium: rheumatic heart disease. Can J Cardiol. 2006. 22:267.
Article
5. Ha JW, Lee DD, Chung N, Cho SY. Porcelain atrium. Clin Cardiol. 2001. 24:484.
Article
6. Lin YS, Tsai FC, Chu PH. Massive left atrial and interatrial septal calcification after mitral valve replacement. Chin Med J. 2008. 121:1497–1499.
Article
7. So YH, Goo JM, Kim KH, Im JG. Left Atrial Wall Calcification after Mitral Valve Replacement: CT Findings and Clinical Significance. J Korean Radiol Soc. 2002. 47:607–613.
Article
8. Oppenheimer BS. Calcification and osteogenic change of the left auricle in a case of auricular fibrillation. Proc NY Pathol Soc. 1912. 12:213–215.
9. Harthorne JW, Seltzer RA, Austen WG. Left atrial calcification. Review of literature and proposed management. Circulation. 1966. 34:198–210.
Article
10. Koroglu M, Chen PS, Oto A, Koroglu BK. Left atrial, pulmonary vein and dural calcification in a patient with arrhythmia and chronic renal failure. JBR-BTR. 2005. 88:78–79.
11. Lahey T, Horton S. Massive left atrial calcification and devastating systemic emboli in a patient with chronic renal failure. Am J Kidney Dis. 2002. 40:416–419.
Article
12. Peces R, Pobes A, Rodriguez M, Simarro C, Iglesias G, Simarro E. Left atrial calcification in a hemodialysis patient with cor triatriatum. Am J Kidney Dis. 2000. 35:E27.
Article
13. Kim SH, Woo SY, Oh YK, Chung WB, Lim CH, Shin JW, Park CS, Youn HJ, Chung WS, Hong SJ. A case of recurrent thrombus associated with left atrial calcification. Korean Circ J. 2004. 34:323–327.
Article
14. Roberts WC, Humphries JO, Morrow AG. Giant right atrium in rheumatic mitral stenosis. Atrial enlargement restricted by mural calcification. Am Heart J. 1970. 79:28–35.
15. Vilacosta I, Gómez J, Almería C, Castillo JA, San Román JA, Zamorano J, Jesús Rollán M, Vidal I, Sánchez Harguindey L. Massive left atrial calcification: a limitation of transesophageal echocardiography. Am Heart J. 1994. 127:461–463.
Article
16. Goel AK, Singh B. Transesophageal echocardiography in the presence of left atrial calcification. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 1997. 10:677–679.
Article
Full Text Links
  • JCU
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr