E-page Original Images: A ring in the heart: an atrial septal aneurysm

An atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) is a thin, located segment of the atrial septum that bulged into the right or left atrium. They are mobile and can be seen moving between the atria during the cardiac cycle. Rarely, some ASAs mimic a right/left atrial cyst or tumor. A 45-year-old man was admitted to our department because of dyspnea. He had history smoking. On physical examination, there were no audible murmurs, rales or rhonci. The chest radiography and electrocardiography were normal. His blood pressure was 120/85 mmHg. Echocardiography demonstrated normal left ventricular function, mild mitral regurgitation, mild tricuspid regurgitation and interatrial septal aneurysm, mimicking left atrial ring shaped cystic mass (Fig.1, Video1. See corresponding video/movie images at www.anakarder.com).