PREOPERATIVE ASSESSMENT OF COR-TRIATRIATUM IN AN ADULT BY DYNAMIC 3-DIMENSIONAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY WAS MORE INFORMATIVE THAN TRANSESOPHAGEAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY OR MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING

Classic cor triatriatum is rarely found in adults. Preoperative assess ment of classic cor triatriatum in a 22 year old man without symptoms by three dimensional echocardiography was more informative than transo esophageal echocardiography or magnetic resonance imaging, which both showed only a small hole in the membrane separating the accessory atri um from the true left atrium. The size of the hole indicated a strong likelihood that symptoms would develop in this patient. Dynamic three dimensional echocardiography, however, showed a long wide hole in the separating membrane. This finding was consistent with the absence of s ymptoms in this patient. Symptom free patients with moderate obstructi on do not need early surgical correction.