Tricuspid regurgitation (CTPA)

Case contributed by Chris O'Donnell
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Patient presents with severe tricuspid regurgitation/incompetence on echocardiography. CTPA to assess for pulmonary embolism

Patient Data

Age: 60 years
Gender: Female

IV contrast injection form the right arm has entered a dilated right atrium and then refluxed into the IVC and dilated hepatic veins (arrows) as well as the dilated coronary sinus (arrow).  No pulmonary embolism.

Case Discussion

Incompetence at the tricuspid valve has allowed (contrast) opacified blood, that has passed from the right atrium into the right ventricle, to reflux back into the IVC and hepatic veins as well as the coronary sinus i.e. venous structures that communicate with the right atrium that should only contain unopacified blood.  This is the radiological (CT) equivalent of the clinical pulsatile liver seen in tricuspid regurgitation.

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