Presentation
Presented as trauma activation, status post motor vehicle collision and blunt chest injury.
Patient Data
Small contrast-filled outpouching from the right ventricle apex with a narrow neck of connection. Bilateral small pleural effusion.
Case Discussion
Right ventricular pseudoaneurysm is less common than left. Pseudoaneurysm is a contained rupture with a narrow neck compared to a true aneurysm lined by myocardium and has a wider neck.
The most common cause of right ventricular pseudoaneurysm is myocardial infarction and trauma. Complications include rupture, thromboembolism, infection, etc.
The symptoms are nonspecific, and imaging plays a vital role in the diagnosis of this entity. CT and echocardiography are the most commonly used imaging modalities readily available in emergencies.
There is no definite guideline for the treatment and follow-up imaging. Aggressive surgical treatment depends on the symptoms and complications. For non-surgical candidates, follow-up imaging in a week or two is reasonable to look for regression or expansion. Our case was followed one week later by cardiac MRI which showed complete thrombosis of the pseudoaneurysm.