BACKGROUND Unroofed coronary sinus syndrome(UCSS)is a rare congenital heart disease,which has variable morphologic features and is strongly associated with persistent left superior vena cava(PLSVC).However,it is often...BACKGROUND Unroofed coronary sinus syndrome(UCSS)is a rare congenital heart disease,which has variable morphologic features and is strongly associated with persistent left superior vena cava(PLSVC).However,it is often difficult to visualize the left-to-right shunt pathway through the CS by transthoracic echocardiography(TTE).CASE SUMMARY A 37-year-old female was admitted to the hepatological surgery department of a hospital with complaint of subxiphoid pain that had started 1 wk prior.Physical examination revealed a grade 3/6 systolic murmur at the left margin of the sternum,between the 2nd and 3rd intercostal cartilage.The patient underwent echocardiography and was diagnosed with ostium primum atrial septal defect(ASD);thus,she was subsequently transferred to the cardiovascular surgery department.A second TTE evaluation before surgery showed type IV UCSS with secundum ASD.Right-heart contrast echocardiography(RHCE)showed that the right atrium and right ventricle were immediately filled with microbubbles,but no microbubble was observed in the CS.Meanwhile,negative filling was observed at the right atrium orifice of the CS and right atrium side of the secundum atrial septal.RHCE identified UCSS combined with secundum ASD but without PLSVC in this patient.CONCLUSION This rare case of UCSS highlights the value of TTE combined with RHCE in confirming UCSS with ASD or PLSVC.展开更多
BACKGROUND Lymphangioleiomyomatosis(LAM)is a rare cystic lung disease characterized by the proliferation,metastasis,and infiltration of smooth muscle cells in the lung and other tissues,which can be associated with tu...BACKGROUND Lymphangioleiomyomatosis(LAM)is a rare cystic lung disease characterized by the proliferation,metastasis,and infiltration of smooth muscle cells in the lung and other tissues,which can be associated with tuberous sclerosis complex(TSC).The disorder of TSC has a variable expression,and there is great phenotypic variability.CASE SUMMARY A 32-year-old Chinese woman with a history of multiple renal angioleiomyolipoma presented with a productive cough persisting for over 2 wk.Highresolution chest computed tomography revealed interstitial changes,multiple pulmonary bullae,bilateral pulmonary nodules,and multiple fat density areas of the inferior mediastinum.Conventional and contrast ultrasonography revealed multiple high echogenic masses of the liver,kidneys,retroperitoneum,and inferior mediastinum.These masses were diagnosed as angiomyolipomas.Pathology through thoracoscopic lung biopsy confirmed LAM.Furthermore,high-throughput genome sequencing of peripheral blood DNA confirmed the presence of a heterozygous mutation,c.1831C>T(p.Arg611Trp),of the TSC2 gene.The patient was diagnosed with TSC-LAM.CONCLUSION We highlight a rare case of TSC-LAM and the first report of a mediastinum lymphangioleiomyoma associated with TSC-LAM.展开更多
BACKGROUND As an established,simple,inexpensive,and surprisingly effective diagnostic tool,right-heart contrast echocardiography(RHCE)might help in solving a vexing diagnostic problem.If performed appropriately and in...BACKGROUND As an established,simple,inexpensive,and surprisingly effective diagnostic tool,right-heart contrast echocardiography(RHCE)might help in solving a vexing diagnostic problem.If performed appropriately and interpreted logically,RHCE allows for differentiation of various usual and unusual right-to-left shunts based on the site of injection and the sequence of microbubble appearance in the heart.CASE SUMMARY A 31-year-old woman was readmitted to hospital with a 2-mo history of worsening palpitation and chest distress.Two years prior,she had been diagnosed with postpartum pulmonary embolism by conventional echocardiography and computed tomography angiography.While the latter showed no sign of pulmonary artery embolism,the former showed pulmonary artery hypertension,moderate insufficiency,and mild stenosis of the aortic valve.RHCE showed microbubbles appearing in the left ventricle,slightly delayed after rightheart filling with microbubbles;no microbubbles appeared in the left atrium and microbubbles’appearance in the descending aorta occurred nearly simultaneous to right pulmonary artery filling with microbubbles.Conventional echocardiography was re-performed,and an arterial horizontal bidirectional shunt was found according to Doppler enhancement effects caused by microbubbles.The original computed tomography angiography findings were reviewed and found to show a patent ductus arteriosus.CONCLUSION RHCE shows a special imaging sequence for unexplained pulmonary artery hypertension with aortic valve insufficiency and simultaneous patent ductus arteriosus.展开更多
BACKGROUND Effusive-constrictive pericarditis(ECP)is an uncommon pericardial syndrome.Careful echocardiographic examination may provide helpful information not only for diagnosing but also for managing ECP.ECP has var...BACKGROUND Effusive-constrictive pericarditis(ECP)is an uncommon pericardial syndrome.Careful echocardiographic examination may provide helpful information not only for diagnosing but also for managing ECP.ECP has various etiologies;however,Pseudomonas aeruginosa(P.aeruginosa)infection has not been reported as a cause to date.Herein,we present a rare case of ECP caused by P.aeruginosa infection,which was followed up using echocardiography.CASE SUMMARY A 30-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with a 2-mo history of cough,dyspnea,bloating,palpitations,and lower-extremity edema.The patient was initially diagnosed with pericardial effusion by transthoracic echocardiography.Drainage of pericardial effusion was performed to relieve the clinical symptoms.A follow-up echocardiogram showed that the pericardial effusion had decreased;however,the right atrial pressure continued to increase,and signs of constrictive pericarditis were observed upon a more comprehensive inspection.Therefore,the diagnosis of ECP was established based on the comprehensive pre-and postpericardiocentesis echocardiographic findings.An urgent pericardectomy was subsequently performed,which significantly relieved the patient's clinical symptoms,and the signs of pericardial constriction on echocardiography improved.Pericardial effusion and pericardial culture showed growth of P.aeruginosa.CONCLUSION ECP induced by P.aeruginosa infection remains a rare disease.The presence of echocardiographic features of constrictive pericarditis after pericardiocentesis therapy is highly indicative of ECP.展开更多
文摘BACKGROUND Unroofed coronary sinus syndrome(UCSS)is a rare congenital heart disease,which has variable morphologic features and is strongly associated with persistent left superior vena cava(PLSVC).However,it is often difficult to visualize the left-to-right shunt pathway through the CS by transthoracic echocardiography(TTE).CASE SUMMARY A 37-year-old female was admitted to the hepatological surgery department of a hospital with complaint of subxiphoid pain that had started 1 wk prior.Physical examination revealed a grade 3/6 systolic murmur at the left margin of the sternum,between the 2nd and 3rd intercostal cartilage.The patient underwent echocardiography and was diagnosed with ostium primum atrial septal defect(ASD);thus,she was subsequently transferred to the cardiovascular surgery department.A second TTE evaluation before surgery showed type IV UCSS with secundum ASD.Right-heart contrast echocardiography(RHCE)showed that the right atrium and right ventricle were immediately filled with microbubbles,but no microbubble was observed in the CS.Meanwhile,negative filling was observed at the right atrium orifice of the CS and right atrium side of the secundum atrial septal.RHCE identified UCSS combined with secundum ASD but without PLSVC in this patient.CONCLUSION This rare case of UCSS highlights the value of TTE combined with RHCE in confirming UCSS with ASD or PLSVC.
文摘BACKGROUND Lymphangioleiomyomatosis(LAM)is a rare cystic lung disease characterized by the proliferation,metastasis,and infiltration of smooth muscle cells in the lung and other tissues,which can be associated with tuberous sclerosis complex(TSC).The disorder of TSC has a variable expression,and there is great phenotypic variability.CASE SUMMARY A 32-year-old Chinese woman with a history of multiple renal angioleiomyolipoma presented with a productive cough persisting for over 2 wk.Highresolution chest computed tomography revealed interstitial changes,multiple pulmonary bullae,bilateral pulmonary nodules,and multiple fat density areas of the inferior mediastinum.Conventional and contrast ultrasonography revealed multiple high echogenic masses of the liver,kidneys,retroperitoneum,and inferior mediastinum.These masses were diagnosed as angiomyolipomas.Pathology through thoracoscopic lung biopsy confirmed LAM.Furthermore,high-throughput genome sequencing of peripheral blood DNA confirmed the presence of a heterozygous mutation,c.1831C>T(p.Arg611Trp),of the TSC2 gene.The patient was diagnosed with TSC-LAM.CONCLUSION We highlight a rare case of TSC-LAM and the first report of a mediastinum lymphangioleiomyoma associated with TSC-LAM.
文摘BACKGROUND As an established,simple,inexpensive,and surprisingly effective diagnostic tool,right-heart contrast echocardiography(RHCE)might help in solving a vexing diagnostic problem.If performed appropriately and interpreted logically,RHCE allows for differentiation of various usual and unusual right-to-left shunts based on the site of injection and the sequence of microbubble appearance in the heart.CASE SUMMARY A 31-year-old woman was readmitted to hospital with a 2-mo history of worsening palpitation and chest distress.Two years prior,she had been diagnosed with postpartum pulmonary embolism by conventional echocardiography and computed tomography angiography.While the latter showed no sign of pulmonary artery embolism,the former showed pulmonary artery hypertension,moderate insufficiency,and mild stenosis of the aortic valve.RHCE showed microbubbles appearing in the left ventricle,slightly delayed after rightheart filling with microbubbles;no microbubbles appeared in the left atrium and microbubbles’appearance in the descending aorta occurred nearly simultaneous to right pulmonary artery filling with microbubbles.Conventional echocardiography was re-performed,and an arterial horizontal bidirectional shunt was found according to Doppler enhancement effects caused by microbubbles.The original computed tomography angiography findings were reviewed and found to show a patent ductus arteriosus.CONCLUSION RHCE shows a special imaging sequence for unexplained pulmonary artery hypertension with aortic valve insufficiency and simultaneous patent ductus arteriosus.
文摘BACKGROUND Effusive-constrictive pericarditis(ECP)is an uncommon pericardial syndrome.Careful echocardiographic examination may provide helpful information not only for diagnosing but also for managing ECP.ECP has various etiologies;however,Pseudomonas aeruginosa(P.aeruginosa)infection has not been reported as a cause to date.Herein,we present a rare case of ECP caused by P.aeruginosa infection,which was followed up using echocardiography.CASE SUMMARY A 30-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with a 2-mo history of cough,dyspnea,bloating,palpitations,and lower-extremity edema.The patient was initially diagnosed with pericardial effusion by transthoracic echocardiography.Drainage of pericardial effusion was performed to relieve the clinical symptoms.A follow-up echocardiogram showed that the pericardial effusion had decreased;however,the right atrial pressure continued to increase,and signs of constrictive pericarditis were observed upon a more comprehensive inspection.Therefore,the diagnosis of ECP was established based on the comprehensive pre-and postpericardiocentesis echocardiographic findings.An urgent pericardectomy was subsequently performed,which significantly relieved the patient's clinical symptoms,and the signs of pericardial constriction on echocardiography improved.Pericardial effusion and pericardial culture showed growth of P.aeruginosa.CONCLUSION ECP induced by P.aeruginosa infection remains a rare disease.The presence of echocardiographic features of constrictive pericarditis after pericardiocentesis therapy is highly indicative of ECP.
