Prenatal diagnosis of idiopathic dilatation of the right atrium. A case report

Abstract

Idiopathic dilatation of the right atrium is a rare condition. The real incidence of the disease is difficult to estimate since most patients are asymptomatic, although a wide spectrum of symptoms have been reported in children and adults. In the literature, prenatal diagnosis has been reported in few cases. We report a case of prenatally diagnosed right atrial dilation with a 3 years and 8 months follow up. The patient is on acetylsalicylic acid since birth and remained asymptomatic without any atrial thrombosis. We performed regular transthoracic echocardiograms during follow up, however was a cardiac magnetic resonance imaging the method for achieving diagnostic confirmation. The aim of this case report is to describe a rare, potentially serious disease and how prenatal diagnosis allows anticipated actions such as monitoring for cardiac arrhythmia detection and early starting of primary thrombosis prophylaxis.