LEFT-VENTRICULAR DIVERTICULA AND ANEURYSMS - CONGENITAL AND ACQUIRED LESIONS

Congenital diverticula and aneurysms are extremely rare cardiac anomal ies, in contrast to acquired ventricular outpouchings, which are relat ively commonplace. The English language literature pertaining to conge nital lesions in particular is somewhat sparse; in addition, a definit ive classification. scheme for these malformations is lacking. lit thi s manuscript, we review the salient literature pertaining to congenita l diverticula, congenital aneurysms, acquired true aneurysms, ''aneury sms'' of the membranous interventricular septum, and left ventricular pseudoaneurysms. This is performed with attention to the clinical and pathological characteristics, etiology (if known), prognosis, and sugg ested management of these lesions. Important echocardiographic feature s are delineated in the figure legends; however, the differentiation b etween these lesions often must be made on clinical grounds as well. ( ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Volume 15, January 1998).