Anatomical analysis of incidental left atrial diverticula in patients with suspected coronary artery disease using 64-channel multidetector CT.

AIM

To describe and evaluate anatomical characterizations of incidental left atrial (LA) diverticula in patients with suspected coronary artery disease using 64-channel multidetector computed tomography (MDCT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From October 2008 to June 2009, 2059 patients with suspected coronary artery disease underwent electrocardiogram-gated 64-channel MDCT. Five hundred and thirty-two LA diverticula were identified in 377 patients (18.3%, male to female ratio: 216:161, mean age 59±10.89 years, range from 20 to 91 years). Two radiologists retrospectively analysed the number (single or multiple), size (diameter and length), shape (cystiform or tubiform), surface (smooth or irregular), and location (right or mid or left/upper or lower/lateral or posterior). If the length/diameter was <1.5, the diverticular shape was considered to be cystiform.

RESULTS

Among 532 LA diverticula, single (270/532, 51.1%), cystiform (411/532, 77.3%), and smooth (332/532, 62.4%) diverticula were found. The right upper region (255/532, 47.9%) was the most common location, followed by the left lateral area (172/532, 32.3%). The average diameter was 4.7±2 mm (range from 1-19 mm), and the average length was 4.7±2.1 mm (range 1-13 mm). The average ratio of length to diameter was 1.15 (range 0.25-1.45). The average number of diverticula was 2±1.06 (range 1-5).

CONCLUSION

Incidental LA diverticulum is not an uncommon finding in patients with suspected coronary artery disease. MDCT can provide anatomical details of LA diverticula. However, further studies are needed to determine their clinical significance.