- A true aneurysm is a circumscribed non-contractile out-pouching of the left ventricle.
- Although there is a very rare congenital form, the majority occur as a complication of myocardial infarction. It rarely ruptures, but patients are at risk of arrhythmias and thromboembolic events that occur from clot formation within the aneurysm.
- A pseudo-aneurysm, or false cardiac aneurysm, occurs acutely following trauma or a myocardial infarction, with a focal left ventricular rupture, localised haematoma and a high risk of delayed rupture and death.
- CXR – localised bulge in the left heart border. There is often a thinperipheral rim of calcification within the ventricular wall.
- Echocardiography – paradoxical movement of the left ventricularwall in systole is diagnostic. The aneurysm may contain thrombus.
|Calcified Cardiac Aneurysm. |
Note the localized bulge in the heart border, with curvilinear calcification in the left ventricular wall.