Giant right atrium in a child with dilated cardiomyopathy: A case report

Benzhen Wang; Guangsong Shan; Zhen Bing; Qi Zhang; Quansheng Xing; Zipu Li

doi:10.3389/fcvm.2023.1083188

Giant right atrium in a child with dilated cardiomyopathy: A case report

Front Cardiovasc Med. 2023 Mar 15:10:1083188. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1083188. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Benzhen Wang¹, Guangsong Shan¹, Zhen Bing¹, Qi Zhang², Quansheng Xing¹, Zipu Li¹

Affiliations

¹ Heart Center, Qingdao Women and Children's Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.
² Department of Radiology, Qingdao Women and Children's Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.

Abstract

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is one of the leading causes of heart failure in children with diverse clinical characteristics. To date, DCM with a giant atrium as the first manifestation is rare and has not been reported in previous literature. We report a case of a male infant born with a significantly enlarged right atrium. Due to worsened clinical symptoms and the risk of arrhythmias and thrombosis, we performed the surgical reduction of the right atrium. Unfortunately, DCM and a progressive re-enlargement of the right atrium appeared during midterm follow-up. The mother's echocardiogram also suggested DCM, and the patient was eventually considered for a diagnosis of familial DCM. This case may expand the clinical spectrum of DCM and reminds us of the importance of good follow-up of children with idiopathic dilatation of the right atrium.

Keywords: cardiac surgery; cardiomyopathy; heart failure; pediatrics; right atrium.

Publication types

Case Reports